23/11/2010

Islands Will Bear Brunt Of Cuts - SF

Donegal's island communities will be worst affected by the impact of government budget cuts, according to Sinn Fein Senator Pearse Doherty.

As the county's islands went to the polls yesterday in the Donegal South West by-election, Senator Doherty urged as many islanders as possible to cast their votes.

"It is imperative that the whole of this constituency shows its anger and opposition to the draconian budget cuts which are being pursued by this government,” Senator Doherty said.

"That is particularly true of our island communities which have borne the brunt of decades of neglect and under-investment.

"I am urging the people of Arannmore, Tory, Inishfree, Gola, and Inisboffin to show that they are not prepared to tolerate this neglect by sending a very clear message to Fianna Fáil when they go to the polls today."

Unusually, the winner of the Donegal by-election could become one of the shortest serving TDs yet, with the news of the Dáil election announced yesterday to take place in around six weeks time.

The bill for the Donegal South West by-election is estimated to be around €300,000.

Around 750 people are entitled to vote on the five islands with voters on the mainland go to the polls on Thursday.

The seat has been vacant since the election of Fianna Fáil's Pat The Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament in June last year.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan called the by-election earlier this month after the High Court ruled there had been an unreasonable delay by the Government in moving the writ for the vote.

(DW/BMcC)

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