“It’ll be hard to leave it,” Ballyfermot resident Mark St John tells his local People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith, referencing her retirement from politics.
Standing at the gates of St John’s front garden in west Dublin, Smith (67) says she doesn’t think so, and admits life as a member of Dáil Éireann can be “terrible hard work” at times.
St John asks Smith, who has been involved in local and national politics for around 30 years, what she will do next.
“I don’t know what the feck I’m going to do, but I’ll still be active in the area and in the movement,” she laughs.
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It is a crisp November evening and Smith is out canvassing around housing estates off the Ballyfermot Road with councillor Hazel de Nortúin, People Before Profit’s new candidate for Dublin South Central.
Originally from Cherry Orchard, the 37-year-old was co-opted to replace Smith on Dublin City Council in 2016 following her election to the Dáil on her fourth attempt.
“If we didn’t have as good a candidate as Hazel I’d be feeling kind of guilty walking away from the seat in Dublin South Central,” says Smith.
St John says housing is the main issue on his mind ahead of the election as well as local amenities for children.
“I have two kids who are working in the civil service and they can’t afford to buy a house,” he says.
“They’re working really hard. They’re in their 30s and they’re living with us.”
St John adds he always voted for Smith in the past and would likely vote for de Nortúin now.
De Nortúin acknowledges housing has been the dominant issue while out canvassing followed by health, services for children with additional needs and public transport.
Dublin South Central, currently a four-seater, is considered the most left wing constituency in the country, with no Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil TD. It stretches across Ballyfermot, Bluebell, Crumlin, Drimnagh, Dolphin’s Barn, Kilmainham, Kimmage, Inchicore, the Liberties, Chapelizod, Rialto and Walkinstown.
Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh topped the poll here in February 2020 with almost double the quota (but no running mate), followed by Smith, the Green Party’s Patrick Costello and Independent Joan Collins.
Sinn Féin has added two more names to its ticket this time - Cllr Máire Devine and Cllr Daithí Doolan. Other candidates include senator Catherine Ardagh (FF), senator Mary Seery-Kearney (FG), Cllr Darragh Moriarty (Lab), Cllr Jen Cummins (SD), Cllr Philip Sutcliffe (II), Aisling Considine (Aontú), Dolores Webster (Ind), Rebecca Hendrick (II), Richard Murray (Ind), Barry Ward (Irish Freedom Party) and Jina Ahearne (The Irish People).
Ó Snodaigh is the only TD who appears guaranteed to be elected while the success of the Green Party in the local elections around the area seems to give Costello a strong chance of retaining his seat. Whether PBP as well as Collins can both get elected again remains to be seen. Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael believe they are in the running for a seat but are unlikely to both take one.
De Nortúin says there is “an apprehension” from people across the constituency about the “same Government getting in again”. “There’s a sense from them that ‘we can’t take another five years’,” she says.
Back on the doors, Edel White questions the local councillor on the future of Scoil Mochua, a special education school in Clondalkin, where her five-year-old son who has cerebral palsy attends.
A significant funding gap for the school emerged over recent months with parents concerned they may have to fundraise to meet the shortfall.
“It was a battle to get him there in the first place, now we’re left in limbo,” says White. “If it does go, where am I going to go? There’s nowhere else.
“They probably want the parents to fundraise but sure we’re so tired ... we’re 24 hour carers with our children. I couldn’t go out and leave him to try and raise funds.”
Elsewhere, William McEvoy (75) says he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and complains about changes to local bus routes implemented under the BusConnects plan.
“Is that the Green Party doing all this?,” he asks de Nortúin. “The kids can hop on and off buses, I used to do it myself. It’s fine when you’re young but I have COPD. This has been very bad for the elderly.”
Joe Kenna (65), a former member of the Defence Forces for 23 years, says there is not enough support for soldiers when they retire, particularly around health and housing.
“We defend the State at all times and give up our life to defend the State, it should be recognised after you retire, not just while in service,” he says.
Smith adds the constituency has been dubbed “The People’s Republic of Dublin South Central” due to the absence of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil or a right-wing TD.
“My bottom line is: I think Dublin South Central will be left and I’m very confident that we’ll win one of the seats.”
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