Campaigners hoping to meet An Taoiseach Simon Harris in Letterkenny were left disappointed after he missed a stop on his canvass tour in Donegal.
Mr Harris was scheduled to canvass Main Street Letterkenny this evening.
However, a phone call from Donald Trump delayed the itinerary.
The Taoiseach took a call with US President-elect Donald Trump while travelling to the north west. Among the topics discussed were the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and Ireland and America’s economic ties.
In Letterkenny, campaigners had gathered from 4.30pm with signage to shine a light on various issues, predominately defective concrete blocks.
By 6.20pm, word filtered through that the Fine Gael leader had moved on to Ballybofey.
Eleven-year-old Kylie Ann Stewart was waiting by the roadside with a sign that she hoped the Taoiseach would read.
It said: “I’m the child that waited six years for surgery.
“I’m the child that waited outside the Dáil and you never came to meet me.
“But maybe today you will meet me because I have my surgery!”
Kylie Ann Stewart with her brother Kieran and mum Catherine
The Kilmacrennan schoolgirl received her scoliosis surgery in May. Her parents, Jonathan and Catherine had been highlighting the agony of her condition for years. Now they are campaigning for other families in the same situation.
“Kylie Ann really wanted to be a voice for the children that are still waiting on surgery,” Catherine told Donegal Daily.
“He (Harris) has made false promises to children like Kylie Ann. In 2017, he said children would be waiting no longer than four months for surgery.
“I think it’s time he’s out, not even coming out to face the people.”
Representatives of the Raphoe Community Playgroup held a banner displaying images of their former building which is crumbling due to defective concrete. The group is fighting for a rebuild, but until the redress scheme covers community buildings, they and the children are displaced.
A spokesperson for Fine Gael said the Taoiseach did meet the Raphoe group later on in Stranorlar.
A spokesperson said Mr Harris met the group, discussed their issue and took their documents.
100% Redress Party members and affected homeowners were vocal about their anger.
Siobhan McBride, whose Ramelton home has already been demolished, said: “Why wouldn’t you be angry after two hours, standing here, in the middle of November, for a man that doesn’t show up for people?”
Siobhan said she would have highlighted the flaws of the defective concrete block scheme, if she been afforded the opportunity to speak with An Taoiseach.
“If we look after the most vulnerable in our society, the rest will be easy,” Siobhan said.
“We want our politicians to look after the most vulnerable. The reason why people get so upset and so angry with politicians, particularly in Donegal with the defective concrete crisis, is because our most vulnerable are left behind.
“The scheme is an ableist scheme. People have been fighting day and night.”
