Why I got involved in politics

I developed an interest in politics because I believe that government can be positive in peoples lives.

I feel that services in Rural Ireland have been reduced in recent years, posts offices, banks and small shops have all been closing forcing people to travel away from their communities to manage their households.

My priorities

I believe in developing local facilities that are accessible to all and that promote the local environment and biodiversity.

There are many ways to make facilities more accessible for everyone, for example making wider paths for people in wheelchairs or including social communication boards in our parks.

I also believe in developing high-quality jobs in rural Ireland. The pandemic accelerated this change but I believe there are further developments in broadband and in remote working hubs that would reduce the huge number of people commuting from Laois every day.

Finally I would like to work to promote positive mental health, invest in services and increase supports for farmers and others in high risk professions.

My background

I work as a Social Worker and Family Therapist in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Working with young people experiencing a range of challenges from eating disorders to depression and ADHD.

I live in Killeshin with my wife Karen who is a teacher in a local school. For a number of years, I worked as a Youth Worker in Gragiuecullen and I later worked with the housing charity Focus Ireland.

I grew up on a small dairy farm in Wolfhill and went to school in Newtown NS and the Presentation Carlow. After school, I completed a degree in Social Care in Athlone IT.

I undertook further training in Criminology and Social Policy with the Open University before completing my Social Work training at Trinity University. In the last year I completed by training as a Family Therapist in UCD.

Clubs and Committees

• National Chairperson of Social Workers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health,

• PRO Crettyard GAA.