CENTRE PARTY CANDIDATE

DUBLIN NORTHWEST CONSTITUENCY

My name is Ian Croft, and I'm candidate in the upcoming General Election with the Centre Party. With deep roots in our community and a steadfast commitment to public service, I am asking for your number 1 vote to represent the Dublin Northwest constituency in the next Dáil.

  • 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. For 2 years, I volunteered on Finglas Suicide and Support Network, and I also sat on the Board of The Ballymun Whitehall Partnership.
  • 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.

My Mission

If elected, 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 prioritising the needs of our residents, we can build a brighter future for all.

Why Vote for Me?

My Priorities

24/7 Policing - We need more Garda Presence in our Communities

We have to work together to find a solution to our underresourced Garda Force. The current model of bringing Gardai from other communities to police Dublin City is unsustainable.

We need to look at alternative solutions such as leveraging Garda reserves or using army personnel for certain duties, such as embassy duties, ministerial drivers, public transport, and municipal policing.

Crime in Dublin has spiraled out of control, with many elderly people telling me they no longer feel safe going into Dublin City. The American Embassy has issued notice to its citizens travelling to Ireland, that Dublin City is not a safe place to be in if you are alone, and that people visiting should excercise caution. Dublin is better than this!

Drug Policy Reform

The current approach to tackling the problem of drugs is not working in Dublin, with open drug use becoming a regular sight in our capital city and suburb. Early intervention is key and tackling the issue with evidence-based solutions is key. I have a significant amount of experience working with mental health issues and I want to bring my skills to Dublin City Council to tackle the issues head-on. 

  • Understanding Approach: Adopt policies that treat drug use as a health issue rather than solely a criminal one.
  • Evidence-Based Solutions: Implement strategies proven effective in other jurisdictions to prevent drug abuse and support recovery.
  • Expanded Support: Increase funding for rehabilitation programs and create new support networks for individuals and families affected by addiction.
  • Reduced Reoffending: Focus on integration programs for ex-offenders to help them return to society without returning to old habits.

Domestic Abuse and Lack of Refuge Spaces

Domestic Violence is on the rise and I would like to see all local authorities work collaboratively to increase the number of refuge spaces across the country, with a view to having inter-authority cooperation at the forefront when it comes to providing refuge spaces for those who need it most. No person should be refused refuge in an administrative area because they are registered with a different local authority. 

We need to take a more pragmatic and humane approach to supporting those who are victims of domestic abuse. There are also children who suffer immensely when a parent is the victim of domestic abuse, and as a result of adverse childhood experiences, there will be a significant impact on their development. 

  • Increase Refuge Spaces: Add 400 new units to existing refuges to provide safe spaces for victims and survivors, aiming to exceed the standards set by the Council of Europe.
  • Comprehensive Support: Provide counseling, legal, and financial assistance to help survivors rebuild their lives.
  • Awareness Campaigns: Launch educational campaigns to raise awareness about domestic abuse and available resources.

Affordable Childcare
  • Increased Subsidies: Boost financial support for families to reduce the overall cost of childcare services.

Cut Costs
  • Lower LPT: Cut Local Property Tax rates for residential and small to medium-sized enterprise properties to ease financial burdens.
  • Public Portal: Develop a new online portal where citizens can propose improvements and track how their tax money is spent.

Housing
  • Rent Regulations: Apply strict rent control policies similar to the Vienna housing model to keep housing affordable.
  • Homelessness Solutions: Implement targeted programs to address and prevent homelessness, including emergency housing and long-term integration strategies.

Teen Well-Being
  • Mental Health Services: Enhance the availability and quality of mental health services accessible to teenagers.
  • Access to Counselling: Guarantee that every teen has access to professional counselling and mental health resources.
  • Resilience Programs: Develop and promote programs that focus on building resilience and personal growth among youth.

Citizens Portal
  • Real-Time Updates: Provide instant updates on local issues and projects through a newly designed online platform.
  • Accountable Tracking: Offer transparent monitoring of project costs and timelines, ensuring that public funds are spent appropriately.

Break Down Silos
  • Enhanced Cooperation: Promote collaboration across different departments and levels of government to streamline services and reduce unnecessary expenditures.
  • Adopt a more synergistic approach to reduce the costs of duplicated services across local authorities

Migration Think Tank
  • Open Dialogue: Establish a forum for discussing migration issues openly and inclusively.
  • Collaborative Solutions: Work together to find innovative and fair solutions to challenges posed by migration, involving all community stakeholders.

Responsible Planning and Development
  • Balanced Development: Advocate for development strategies that balance new housing projects with the preservation of community character.
  • Infrastructure Integration: Ensure that all new developments include necessary infrastructure upgrades to support additional population without straining local services.

We Need Greater Accountability

As your candidate in the general election for Dublin Northwest, I am committed to a transparent and accountable approach. My focus extends beyond local issues to those impacting our entire constituency, with a commitment to addressing pressing challenges like housing, mental health, and sustainable development. Holding myself accountable means actively listening, responding to your needs, and ensuring every decision is made with the community's best interests at heart. I pledge to make your voice heard in every policy decision, ensuring meaningful change for Dublin Northwest and all its residents.

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.