Laois Local Election Q & A: Abbeyleix people's person who has inclusion agenda

What are your priorities?
My priorities running in this local election will be to help the local people in any of the areas where I would represent them at local government level if elected.

What is the biggest issue facing your area?
Social exclusion, is a major issue for people living in the rural areas of our Laois county. The non-existence of a taxi service for everyone including the vulnerable people living in the wider communities.
Problems that already exist in the community if you are trying to make a short term GP appointment for yourself, this causes a considerable amount of anxiety among the locals because of the unavailability of such a service.
Consider the possibility of building, or renovating the current dispensary building on the existing Hospital site, staffing it with the necessary personnel and turning it into a medical centre.
Construct, or renovate an existing building in or close to the central town of Abbeyleix for the purpose of providing a Men’s and indeed a Women’s shed.

Why do you think you would make a good County Councillor?
I consider myself to be a people’s person. I also consider myself to be a community activist with a real passion for local history, meeting recording and documenting the stories that the older generation have to tell. I have published two books to date that have already proven to be very popular in our local community, the books have also made it to 27 different countries, connecting people from around the world.

Noel Burke 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.