City mayor to contest Galway West by-election bringing candidates to ten
The mayor of Galway has announced his standing in the Galway West by-election bringing the names on the ballot up to 10.
Galway City Councilor Mike Cubbard confirmed he will be running as an Independent candidate nearly two months before the expected May election date.
Cllr Cubbard has been a city councillor since 2014 and is serving his third term as the local authority’s mayor.
The Westside native said he is running on a “Galway First” campaign focusing on “maximising funding for Galway” to move key infrastructure projects along seeking to improve wastewater treatment plants and rural road network servicing.
“If the Government asks for my support, I will judge every decision on whether it is good for Galway. If it is, I will back it. If it is not, I will not support it,” he said.
“Many towns and villages still cannot build or expand, which has knock on effects. Schools lose numbers, teachers are cut, post offices and Garda stations close and sports clubs are forced to merge or disappear.”
Cllr Cubbard committed to taking on healthcare and disability service upgrades like expanding the capacity at UHG and primary care centres around the city centre.
He also committed to delivering the elective Merlin Park hospital that was recently confirmed despite suggestions that the project had been scaled back.
“People in Galway are tired of long waits, overcrowded wards and the fear they will need private insurance just to be seen on time.”
“People with disabilities deserve equal access to services, supports and opportunities, and we need to build a city and county that are genuinely accessible to all,” Cllr Cubbard said. “Right now, the severe lack of investment in mental health services is making that inequality even worse. We need proper funding, dedicated services and a system that treats every person with dignity.”
In his full-scope campaign, Cllr Cubbard also touched on immigration saying delays in the asylum system process put “real pressure on housing and services.”
“We need a faster, fairer process that treats people with dignity but also ensures that refused applications do not result in indefinite stays.”
The following have confirmed they will contest in the Galway West by-election: Independent Ireland Councillor Noel Thomas; independent Councillor Tom Welby; Green Party representative Niall Murphy; independent Sheila Garrity; Labour Councillor Helen Ogbu; Aontú’s Orla Nugent; Social Democrats candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich; Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne; and Sinn Féin’s Mark Lohan.