Local Aontú rep elected to Ard Chomhairle

The local Aontú representative for the Kinnegad-Delvin area, Laura O’Neill, has been elected to the Ard Chomhairle, the party's leadership group.

Speaking after her election, Ms O'Neill said: “I’m thrilled to have the work I have been doing locally and within the party recognised by my colleagues. Only fourteen women have ever been elected to Westmeath County Council. Currently we have four female councillors in Westmeath - the most we've ever had. These figures are reflected throughout the country, so it makes me incredibly proud that our party has an equal gender balance in its leadership group, and I very much appreciate the work of the See Her Elected group in their support for women candidates across the country”

O’Neill, who has previously organised demonstrations outside of Mullingar Hospital in support of better staff and patient conditions, also had motions passed demanding particular investment in Westmeath mental health supports and maternity care.

Addressing the Ard Fheis, O’Neill spoke about her own struggles with mental health:

“I myself have been diagnosed with and struggled with anxiety for my entire adult life. I am lucky that I can fight and advocate for myself – and it is a fight. But generally when people are down, struggling and vulnerable they cannot fight, and should not have to fight for basic mental health services."

Laura has begun canvassing in the LEA in recent weeks, and says it is going well:

"The issues on the doors are the same - housing, health and the cost of living. The closure of Castlepollard Social Welfare Office was the beginning of a blow to the economies of Castlepollard and surrounding villages. The redirection of services towards bigger towns has caused many small, local businesses to suffer. Many farmers in rural areas are struggling enormously with inflated input costs and stagnant output prices. Families of children with special needs, those looking after elderly relatives and those in isolated rural areas have been significantly neglected.

“I'm fighting hard to reduce toll costs for Westmeath commuters on the M4. Figures released to us in Aontú under Freedom of Information show that since 2020 the toll bridge between Kilcock and Kinnegad has taken in €90 million. Now really isn’t the time to increase toll costs, when so many Westmeath commuters are being hammered by inflated costs of petrol and diesel.We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis. I look forward to meeting more people on the doorsteps in the coming weeks and months. I will use my new position in our party leadership to fight hard for the people of Westmeath", concluded Laura O'Neill.