Let's stop fighting the old and work together on building the new!
My name is Ian Croft, and I'm an independent candidate in the upcoming local elections this June. With deep roots in our community and a steadfast commitment to public service, I am asking for your number 1 vote to represent the Artane/Whitehall Local Election Area (LEA).
Local at Heart: A Santry resident for nearly 40 years, I intimately understand our area's unique needs and aspirations.
Proven Leadership: As a founding member and the chairman of a local Tidy Town group since June 2020, I've led initiatives that have visibly enhanced our local environment and community spirit.
Experienced Advocate: With over 15 years of experience liaising with Dublin City Council, I bring a deep understanding of council operations and a committed focus on enhancing areas where there's a clear need for progress.
Professional Expertise: Holding an Honours degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy, and running my own private counselling practice in our community, I am deeply invested in the mental and emotional well-being of our residents.
As an independent candidate, my mission is to bring about positive change and improvements for the benefit of all residents in the Artane Whitehall election area. To achieve this, I will listen to the concerns and ideas of my constituents and work collaboratively with local residents and community groups to find solutions to our challenges. I am committed to transparency and accountability in government, and will always be a responsive and accessible representative for my community. I believe that by working together and prioritizing the needs of our residents, we can build a brighter future for all.
Why vote for me?
MY PRIORITIES
WE NEED GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY
Gullies Being Signed Off as Maintained
I couldn't believe just how bad gullies were across the board in both DCC and FCC. Fortunately FCC were quick to respond to requests to clear the ones the were in charge of, but with DCC it felt like a losing battle and took significantly longer.
Bins not Being Emptied
There are a limited number of bins in our community and it unfortunate that they are not being emptied as frequently as they should be. The sight of overflowing bins is only too common. Existing technology needs to be utilised to increase efficiency. I have been pushing for additional bins and have been successful with getting additional new bins for the Sword's Road, and also getting a number of the existing bins replaced with big belly bins.
LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY
During the early days of Covid restrictions, along with other Santry residents, we got a Tidy Towns group up and running. Being active on the ground with the Santry Tidy Towns volunteers really gave me a much better sense of the many issues on the streets of our community. It has also been a great opportunity to hear from many local residents!
I have been participating in many litter pick events over the last few years with Santry Tidy Towns since the formation of the group in May 2020. For many volunteers, litter picking during lockdowns and having socially distanced catch-ups proved to be great for the mental health.
As Chairman of Santry Tidy Towns, I also liaise with both Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council. There is quite a bit that goes on behind the scenes of Santry Tidy Towns and this work is supported by a strong team on the committee.
Since things have returned to near normal, we continue to carry out litter picking as often as possible so if you are able to help out at any stage during the year, please get in touch.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE AREA
The local area is changing fast, and it’s not all for the better. There are many questions around the bus connects, the scale of new developments and poor site management during construction.
The lack of amenities is a concern for everyone and I will fight for improved amenities and better infrastructure to go hand in hand with new developments.
We need lots of new homes where people can live, but the rents that corporate landlords are expecting people to pay needs to be tackled with a rent freeze. If I am elected I will work hard to tackle the issue of corporations bulk buying housing stock.
