Kilkenny candidate reveals manifesto for climate change at a local level

Labour Party candidate in this week’s local elections for Kilkenny City and former Mayor of the city, Seán Ó hArgáín, has launched a climate change and environmental manifesto ahead of the elections.

Titled ‘We only want the earth’ in honour of his party’s founder, James Connolly, Mr. Ó hArgáin says that real, practical action on the environment and climate change will be at the top of his agenda if elected on Friday.

"I have a long track record of environmental concern and activity. As a family member and as an individual, I have walked the walk for many years. I cycled to work in our city every day, regardless of the weather, for fourteen years and led and still volunteer in cycle bus initiatives for students. We have reduced our family car dependence by stepping back to one car and we use public transport where possible when leaving the city. I realise that living close to the city centre makes that easier for us, but it is also a personal and environmental decision.

"In this manifesto I am arguing for the joining up of the dots in our city. We need to have a radical look at how people travel to and from and around our city. The lack of rural transport that arrives in time for people’s work starting time and the end of the working day means that residents of most of our rural areas and towns and villages feel they have no other option but to drive to their city workplaces. We need to initiate a conversation with the TFI Local Link services to make their timetables more conducive to this type of arrangement.

"Where people are forced to drive to the city, we need park and ride facilities on all our approach roads to allow people use public transport or our bike rental scheme to travel on to work, school or other services.

"I also believe that our city bus services must be expanded. The failure of the service to collect passengers in areas like Hebron Park and Seville Lawns, forcing the residents of these areas to walk over a kilometre to access the nearest public bus service must be addressed. There is also a demand for the buses to service the central part of Purcellsinch Business Park and the Smithland’s Retail Park on the Ring Road.

"We must urgently address the imbalance in future-proofing of our homes. We need to build on the legacy of the ‘Warmer Homes’ initiative, piloted by my late Labour Party colleague, Joe Cody, over two decades ago. Solar panels and modern heating systems which do not rely on fossil fuels must be rolled out for all homes. At present, these facilities are increasingly only seen on middle class and wealthier homes. This work must be funded by national government.

"I am also calling for radical steps to be taken to end the use of single-use plastic waste in our city. We must follow towns like Killarney in rolling out keep-cup initiatives and water refill stations around the city, to serve both local residents and tourists. We must also work with local retail and food businesses and local event and festival organisers to eliminate single-use packaging. ’

Mr. Ó hArgáin said he would commit to work with his own party colleagues and members of other parties and none to ensure that climate change action would be at the heart of the new council’s work, saying that delaying such action is not an option.

 "As a new grandfather, I believe that failure on our part to change the damage that has been done to our city, county and planet will not be forgiven by our future generations."