Concerns among voters regarding housing, emigration, and immigration are coming to the forefront as 39 candidates compete for 18 positions across the three municipal districts of the Longford County Council in the 2024 local elections. A mere 25.6 percent of the candidates, or 10 in total, are female, with two in Granard and Ballymahon, and six in Longford.
Independents make up the majority of nominees with 13 candidates. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have fielded 10 contenders each, Sinn Féin has three, and Irish People, People Before Profit, and the Green Party each have one. After the 2019 elections, Fine Gael emerged as the dominant party with nine seats evenly distributed across all three districts. Fianna Fáil secured six seats while Independents got three.
Gerry Warnock (Ind) and John Brown (FG) have decided not to run for re-election in Longford, while PJ Reilly (FF) chose not to pursue the Granard slot. Warnock has his sights set on the ensuing general election. Various issues such as a scarcity of school placements, difficulties in seeing GPs, speeding motorists in residential areas, and the condition of roads and pavements, have been brought forward by the voters alongside worries about immigration and escalating homelessness.
The electorate in the Longford area have expressed anxiety regarding the imposed halt on hiring within the HSE. Fears are growing that this could result in young workers moving away and overworked staff seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Seats distribution for local elections 2024 are as follows: Ballymahon has six, Granard has five, and Longford has seven. Other election areas include multiple districts throughout the country, notably Dublin, Cork City, and Galway County, among others. These elections are being closely followed through the EU&I Voter App.
Check out the results from the 2019 Longford County Council election. Explore detailed coverage of both the European and Local Elections. Tune in to the Inside Politics Podcast for more in-depth information. Also, the most recent political and public opinion surveys are available for review.