Laois Local Election Q & A: Cost of living struggle priority for Portlaoise area candidate

What are your priorities?
Health and screening facilities in the locality and an effective and efficient system of screening. MRI, let's petts scanning. Nobody should have to wait and travel outside the county for these scans. Also to support and retain local services and help to fund them.Housing and affordable housing. This is an ongoing problem and we have to be extremely resourceful in finding solutions, not creating and adding to an already massive problem.
Disabled access to all public areas and buildings.
Education, under funding seems to be a recurring problem in this area. What we invest now in our children's education and facilities is extremely important for their futures.

What is the biggest issue facing your area?
There are many many issues out there and they vary hugely from household to household and circumstantial too. Having been out canvassing I cannot believe that some households are actually struggling to the point they are due to the cost of living. This is not acceptable on any level. Unfortunately we live in a time where there are many different sections and even sub sections in our society. This alone can cause huge issues in itself and is very worrying.

Why do you think you would make a good County Councillor?
I have worked extremely hard all my life. I commit deeply to all my endeavours and undertakings. I really like to help people in all contexts and take great pride in finding solutions to problems. I have faced many tough times and struggles in life, most recently having become a widow in the last 2 years and now learning to raise my boys as a widow. I have endured the health system with my sadly departed wife and saw how broken the system actually is. I know the strength it takes to make it through another day, in adverse circumstances.

Jason Phelan is a candidate in the Portlaoise Municipal District where seven councillors will be elected. In the lead-up to polling day on June 7 we will be featuring profiles on all 47 candidates vying for a seat on Laois County Council.