'Politics is fighting people's corners where they are not getting what they should'

Meath East Candidate Focus: Caroline O'Reilly (Fianna Fail)

What a difference a year can make. And what a hectic year that has been for Cllr Caroline O'Reilly who only entered politics this time last year following the sudden death of her cousin, Damien O'Reilly and now finds herself on the ballot paper in the Meath East constituency on 29th November.

O'Reilly has worked as a pyschotherapist and counsellor for almost 20 years and admits she had never considered a career in politics. "Damien was always the politician in our family. I never had any plans to compete with that to be honest," she said but when fate intervened with the devastating loss of her cousin, Caroline says she had "no hesitation" when she was asked to go forward for his seat.

"There was an element of protecting Damien's legacy and that was a big thing for me. It is a huge motivational factor as well and that will never go away."

It has been constant canvassing and contests since then for O'Reilly between selection conventions for the co-option, the local election, and the general election and hitting doorsteps first for the locals and now for the general election.

Even before June's local elections, with Meath East going from three to four seats, people were already starting to joke with her about the general, but O'Reilly says she just wanted to get through the locals first. Then when then the opportunity to go forward for Dail Éireann came, she decided to go for it.

"I thought why not, let's do this. I didn't want to have any regrets about not doing it. I think we have a really good chance, we have a really good team."

O'Reilly joins outgoing TD Thomas Byrne on the Meath East Fianna Fáil ticket and says geographically she is the ideal running mate as he is in the north of county while she in the south. She feels South East Meath need a TD representing the area and believes she is the person for the job.

O'Reilly has hit the ground running and says she is the type of person who can turn her hand to anything. "My husband is farmer so I could be pulling calves down the yard one night, then working as a pyschotherapist the next day and then on to my work as a county councillor. I have always been a very adaptable person and resilient."

For O'Reilly, politics isn't all that different to her day job in the sense that there is the constant battle for funding for their services and battle for services and supports for their clients. Her work in addiction and mental health involves working with homelessness, disabilities, marginalised people, housing, poverty, mental health issues, and addiction issues.

"Addiction and mental health are the poorer cousins in the health system and I know what it is like to have to fight for services. "She added that politics is a massive advocacy piece and also about "fighting people's corners where they are not getting what they should".

O'Reilly says her priorities have been informed from canvassing over the last couple of months and there a lot of common trends and patterns. "My number one personal priority is to listen to the views of my community and respond to their needs. I think that is what this work is ultimately about.

"Housing is a huge issue, and a massive priority for Fianna Fáil. We have to work to be able to support people to be able to purchase their own home." She believes there are many factors at play- supply must be increased, associated building costs must be examined, the cost of living must come down. That rents are far too high, meaning people can't afford to save.

"I've met so many people who feel hopeless about housing. We as a government have to continue to prioritise that and certainly it's my priority."

She believes associated infrastructure is just as important from increasing garda numbers to health services provision, disability service provision, public transport, childcare provision, educational facilities and open spaces.

Other areas she will be focusing on is the need for timely assessments and subsequent services for children with additional needs and also supports for adults with disabilities who are slipping through the cracks when they turn 18, where their parents are getting older and need more support.

The provision of promised creches in housing developments is also an issue. O'Reilly says she has met so many families who have bought houses in estates "on the promise of a creche onsite", yet years later these creches still haven't been built. She believes tougher conditions need to be imposed on developers to deliver the creches before houses are built. "People are being sold a pup. That has to change it is not fair."

Public transport is also a big issue, particularly in Ratoath and Ashbourne. "They are rapidly growing urban areas with a rural service. It hasn't been prioritised enough. It needs government level attention and regardless of the outcome of this election, it is a priority for me. It has to be resolved.

Immigration does come up in pockets but O'Reilly says it isn't coming up as much since Thornton Hall had stalled and says she was very vocal about it being a totally inappropriate location being in a flight path with no water or sewerage. The slow pace of delivering a public park in Ashbourne is also one that is coming up, and in rural areas, she says road safety remains a big concern.

On Background... Caroline O'Reilly

A PYSCHOTHERAPIST and counsellor, Caroline O'Reilly has worked in the area of mental health and addiction services for almost 20 years.

She was co-opted to Meath County Council last December to fill the seat held by her late cousin Damien O'Reilly who died suddenly in September of last year.

She retained that seat in the Ratoath MD June's local elections polling 1,433 first preferences. Fianna Fáil selected O'Reilly as a running mate for Minister Thomas Byrne for the Meath East constituency.

Caroline lists her priorities are housing, transport, community development and social infrastructure, education and healthcare.

She lives in Kilcloon with her husband Ger and seven-year-old daughter. She feels South East Meath is missing out by not having a TD in Dáil Eireann and believes she is the best person for the job.