Hi, I'm Shane
I am the Labour Party candidate for Donaghmede in the local elections in June 2024. This area includes Donaghmede, Raheny, Ayrfield, and Edenmore.
Since 2010, I have been actively involved in politics and have campaigned on equality and economic issues, most recently a campaign to improve facilities in our local parks, the campaign to Save Tolka Park, and campaigns to end the housing crisis.
I’m excited about getting the opportunity to represent our community on Dublin City Council.
Hi, I'm Shane
I am the Labour Party candidate for Donaghmede in the local elections this May. This area includes Donaghmede, Raheny, Ayrfield, and Edenmore.
Since 2010, I have been actively involved in politics and have campaigned on equality and economic issues, most recently the Yes campaign for marriage equality and the Campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment.
I’m excited about getting the opportunity to represent our community on Dublin City Council.
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My Priorities
Housing
We all know that housing has been one of the most significant issues facing our country in the last decade, and it shows no clear signs of improving. Accessing affordable housing is proving nearly impossible for many of us, especially young people.
If elected to the city council, I will campaign strongly for more Government support for our community to help address this critical issue. Here are the ways I propose to fix this:
- Public land should be made available for social and affordable housing, including schemes of affordable home ownership, but public land will not be sold
- A range of measures designed to push land owners towards the development of vacant sites rather than land hoarding
- A referendum will be held to recognise socio-economic rights in the Constitution, including the right to a means of affording housing, to be fulfilled on the basis of available resources.
If our plans are put into action, there is a potential minimum of 80,000 units of housing to be delivered in a five-year period of Government, based on investing €16 billion, with the delivery of this housing frontloaded to end the housing crisis as soon as possible
Environment
Our City has grown so much in the last few decades. Getting from A to B needs to work better for our community. The City needs to adapt if we are going to thrive in this day and age.
We need to see better capacity on DART services. The DART timetable introduced a few years ago does not adequately meet demand, and we will continue to campaign until the service suits those that need & use it.
I will campaign for the expansion of the Dublin Bikes scheme, which has been hugely successful, and to introduce a Bike to School scheme, similar to the Bike to Work scheme which has been in operation for a number of years.
We need to see greater investment into cycling. The coastal cycle lane will be a great improvement to the area, but we need to see more being done if we are serious about a greener transport system.
Metro North must be fast-tracked, as this would help ease pressure on DART services, and generally take away traffic going into and out of the City. What I will work towards, if elected, will include:
- Keeping common green areas maintained, safe, and attractive.
- More local sport and recreational facilities are provided where needed.
- Local businesses are supported to provide employment opportunities in our community.
These three will go a long way towards keeping our communities together, and make Dublin a much better place to grow up and grow old in.
A Better Dublin for All
I believe that the people of Dublin deserve to live in a safe, thriving city that has ample amenities and facilities. My priorities for the next 5 years to help achieve this include:
- Campaign for more Gardaí are integrated in local areas through community and small-area policing.
- Extend the “Empty Nester” scheme throughout the city, facilitating older people who wish to sell their old house to the council and be re-housed in more suitable accommodation.
- Ensure 20% of the workforce for major public projects is drawn from the local area in which they are based.
- Roll out the Purple Flag initiative to ensure excellence in the management of our night-time city
About Me
Having grown up in Artane and been involved with the community in Dublin 5, I’m passionate about our area. We face so many challenges in our city, and the only way to overcome them is to have a transparent , community-led council.
My priorities include:
- Addressing the housing crisis by ensuring planning is community-led and sustainable, and not a return to the boom- and bust-cycle which got us here in the first place
- Resisting the cuts to our local services, particularly bus routes which serve so many of our neighbours, who would be lost without them
- Supporting local organisations to help foster the community that has built over the last few decades
I became involved in politics because I wanted to help make a difference.
As one of the youngest local candidates, I believe we need more young people involved in politics. The passion and determination of young people can make real change – the last two referenda show this. We are facing serious challenges in housing and with the cost of living in our City at the moment.
We need to get involved and take down these challenges head on.
I would be delighted to hear from you. You can reach me at hello@shanefolan.ie or 087 205 1804