Why I got involved in politics

Through getting involved in community groups such as Playground Committee, Community Crèche Action Group and Community Council as well as my local Residents' Association, I realised that I really enjoyed helping others and trying to come up with solutions to the problems facing our community.

I also, through my work in education, set up volunteering opportunities for students and community organisations that really needed support and I learned that it is important for us to engage and to work together whether at local or county level.

I am interested in people's stories and enjoy working hard to serve others as best I can.

My priorities

• The shortage of childcare education provision,

• The lack of social and affordable housing,

• Supporting parents in securing school places for their children,

• The lack of recreational and social amenities for young people,

• Creating equality of access to higher and further education,

• The lack of adequate health services,

• Improving accessibility to support people with disabilities

My background

I am a County Councillor on Kildare County Council with a strong mandate to represent the people for a more fair, equal and empowered community.

Driven by a keen sense of social justice, I have always worked hard in my professional and personal life to help others in any way I can. Through my many years working in education, I understand the importance of education as a force of change and improvement for people’s lives.

I am a fluent speaker of Gaeilge and French and having worked abroad understand the importance of cultural awareness for better social cohesion. Having been a working mother of three, I am very aware of the need to better support women in the workplace through improved childcare education services and equal pay.

Finally, as a woman in politics, I want to encourage other women to engage in politics and to work hard to promote diversity and fairness.

Clubs and Committees

• Vice Chair of Kildare County Council Finance Committee

• Member of Strategic Policy Committee on Transportation, Roads and

• Emergency Services, KCC

• Member of KWETB

• Constituency Chair Labour Kildare North

• Executive of Labour Women

• Peace Commissioner

Further details

• Former Head of School in Technological University Dublin),

• Completed a PhD on Student Retention in Higher Education with a particular focus on students entering from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds,

• Awarded Chevalier des Palmes Académiques by the French Government for promotion of links between France and Ireland and the French language,

• Awarded President’s Scholarship to Maynooth University,

• Former Lecturer in French and Translation,

• Elected staff representative on Governing Body and Academic Council TU Dublin