- We’ve become a country of waiting lists
Councillor Angela Feeney, Labour’s candidate for Kildare North, has condemned the government’s consistent mismanagement of public funds. This comes in the wake of recent revelations about the Department of Education’s planned €9 million expenditure on student phone pouches. These funds are being earmarked for pouches to lock students’ phones away – a plan that, according to feedback from the public, appears a poor use of resources. Combined with the ongoing controversy over the €336,000 Dáil bike shed, the government’s track record on responsible spending has come under intense scrutiny.
Cllr Feeney said:
“When I’m knocking on doors in Clane, Maynooth, and Naas, I’m hearing frustration from people who are tired of waiting. We’re living in a country of waiting lists. We have waiting lists for childcare, waiting lists for school places, waiting lists for medical procedures, and a housing crisis that’s resulted in staggering waiting lists. These aren’t just numbers on a page. They’re families, children, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals – all waiting because of misplaced government priorities.
“Instead of addressing these crucial needs, we’re seeing millions spent on initiatives that the public simply don’t support. €9 million on phone pouches for schools – a concept most people see as a distraction from real educational needs – and hundreds of thousands on a bike shed at the Dáil. We’ve become a wealthy country by the numbers, but for so many, it doesn’t feel that way.
“Labour believes in investment in the public services that matter most to people – in childcare, education, housing, healthcare. We know that Ireland is a rich country, but this needs to translate into better quality of life for everyone.
“Labour’s plan is clear: we want to see public funds directed where they’re needed most. We need investment in healthcare services so people aren’t waiting months or even years for critical procedures. We need real investment in education, to make sure no family is left searching endlessly for school places. And we need to tackle the housing crisis head-on, not by promising solutions, but by delivering affordable, accessible homes.
“The reality is, politics is about choices. This isn’t the 1980s, nor the late 2000s or early 2010s. We’re living in a new era, where Ireland’s wealth offers opportunities we couldn’t have dreamed of a years ago. But this conservative coalition lacks the vision to plan and invest for our future. They are failing to meet the real needs of housing, climate, water, energy, and public services for Ireland in 2024 and beyond. Their lack of ambition or political will for our country is evident everywhere we look.
“Labour’s vision is different. We want to build better together. We know that Ireland has the resources to provide for the people who need it most, to eliminate the endless waiting lists, and to make real, tangible improvements to people’s daily lives. It’s time for a government that understands that wealth should be a means to improve the lives of all its people, not just a headline.”