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General Election candidate John McNulty has called on the people of Donegal to support him on November 29 so that he can be a voice for the county in Fine Gael – and hopefully inside Government.
The Kilcar native was speaking at Letterkenny Court House today after handing in his official nomination papers.
“I am honoured to be a Fine Gael candidate for Donegal in the General Election on Friday, November 29. Today I signed my election papers at Letterkenny Court House,” said John.
“It is vital that Donegal has a Fine Gael TD inside the Government fighting for them in the next Dáil. Hopefully Fine Gael will be part of the next Government. And Taoiseach Simon Harris needs a Donegal representative on his team.”
Mr McNulty set out his hopes for the next Government, if he is elected by the people of Donegal.
John said; “If elected I will campaign for:
“Defective Concrete Homeowners: I believe all affected homes must be demolished (Option 1) to include foundations and extra funding for rents and storage for all, as well as a VAT refund on materials. All downgraded homeowners must be reassessed and upgraded back to Option 1. I also want to see a Minister of State for Defective Homes, dedicated to fixing the disastrous legacy of the so-called Celtic Tiger.
“Rural Communities: Fine Gael is committed to expanding funding through schemes like the Town & Village Renewal scheme, so we can build more great facilities at the heart of our communities, just as we have done for the past 10 years. Fine Gael also supports one-off homes in the countryside and will make changes to ensure this, so that folks who want to live in their own townlands can do so.
“Farming: As a small farmer myself, I want Donegal farmers recognised for the guardians of the countryside that they are, with more funding to keep family farms viable – large and small. I want to see the current Acres Scheme overhauled. Payments are less than under previous schemes in the 1990s with very few getting a maximum payment – and others forced to hand back money. This must change and must change quickly. Our small farmers are the lifeblood of our rural communities and we must do everything to help them prosper.
“Fishing: I will bring the EU Fisheries Commissioner to Killybegs and Greencastle to see how reduced quotas are affecting our fishing families. Ireland needs to get a fairer share of the fishing in our own waters. The Irish fishing industry has been in steady decline for years, through no fault of the hardworking businesses and communities who depend on it. Poor deals and weak representation at both Irish and EU levels have devastated this vital sector, leading to widespread closures, job losses, and the disappearance of apprenticeships. Our coastal communities now face an uncertain and difficult future. This is a crisis that demands urgent government action. If elected, I pledge to make the survival and revival of the fishing industry a top priority. I will fight tirelessly at every level to secure better deals, stronger support, and a brighter future for the businesses and people who rely on this industry. Together, we can protect our coastal communities and ensure that this proud way of life is preserved and strengthened for generations to come.
“Small Business: Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke at my own shop in Stranorlar and announced a new VAT rate of 11 per cent to give certainty to food and small businesses, giving certainty – backed up with continued electricity grants. Fine Gael is the party for small businesses and will continue to respond to needs with imaginative proposals that work for them.
“Families: My party is committed to a €200 per month cap for childcare, supporting parents – a gamechanger for Donegal mums and dads – and for employers across our county. We will also end means testing for all carers so benefits can be accessed by all. Fine Gael will raise inheritance tax-free sums to €500,000 for children, €75,000 for siblings and €50,000 for others.
“Sport: As a coach, mentor and manager, I am committed to spending millions of euro in our sports clubs across Donegal. Sports clubs do so much for our society and we need to fund them even more in the years ahead to supercharge the physical and mental wellbeing of our communities. We need more and better all-weather facilities too.
“Roads: I will campaign to cut through the red tape holding up with the new roads needed for Lifford, Letterkenny and Twin Towns projects. We need to end the gridlock. Fine Gael reintroduced the Local Improvement Schemes (LIS) and will provide even more funding to Donegal in a new Government.
“Housing: Donegal must get its fair share of the planned 300,000 homes Fine Gael has pledged to build over the next five years. New developments in Letterkenny, Gaoth Dobhair, Stranorlar and other towns are encouraging – a good start with more to do. Funding for vacant properties in our towns and villages will be ramped up to bring these beautiful buildings back into use.
“Health: I am committed to seeing the new Lifford Hospital built as soon as possible, cutting through the red tape holding it up. I want more funding and more staff for Letterkenny hospital and our valuable community hospital network – and I want to see the roll-out of supported independent living facilities for seniors who want them. The new community hospital being constructed in Letterkenny is an important step – and we shall put mental health at the centre of our focus in Donegal.
“Education: I am committed to building on the legacy of Fine Gael, funding new schools and extensions in our county. For example, a new primary school in Milford is badly needed. We also need to properly resource our SENs provision across the county. Our party has cut 3rd level fees – and will abolish them altogether if returned to power. And we’re now funding free school lunches for every child.
Mr McNulty added: “Our country is choked with red tape bureaucracy and I know Simon Harris is committed to getting rid of it so that our country can move forward faster and meet the challenges of the next decade.”
“And we have the money to rebuild the country – we need more apprentices on better wages to make it work even better. I would be grateful if the people of Donegal made me their voice alongside Simon Harris on November 29.”
