Ballyjamesduff MD Candidates: Cllr Trevor Smith (FG)

Cllr Trevor Smith lives in Drumrora and is seeking re-election in the district on behalf of Fine Gael. Trevor is married with three children aged 17, 16 and 12 years and has been a councillor in the area for five years. He also works as a taxi driver in the family business.

How do you unwind?

Family time is very important to me - I try to spend any free time with them. I also enjoy bringing the children to play their football matches. Also I’m what’s known as a hobby farmer and I enjoy the bit of farming. I was very interested in farming growing up even though I was a townie so that gives me a lot of relaxation.

Why should people vote for you?

I’m five years on the Council and I am passionate about my local area. I would like to be returned because I feel that I have worked hard for the people and the community I represent.

What will you do to address housing supply?

As I go around canvassing I am aware of the housing problem but, in Ballyjamesduff, Cavan County Council is involved in a number of housing schemes. Currently, there are over 30 houses under construction at the Woodlands. Moving onto Kilnaleck, there are two schemes in the pipeline. So coming down the line are a number of social houses in my area, and that is very positive. It is going to take a few years for all these houses to come on stream but schemes are coming to fruition and that is what’s important.

Has Ireland taken in enough refugees?

In the beginning, when the Ukrainians started coming here, people were very sympathetic because they were arriving from a war. When the volume increased and the supply of housing was low, people started getting frustrated and then we had an issue. People felt that new people were moving into an area where accommodation was scarce. There was a perception that refugees were getting social housing but that was not the case. None of the Ukrainians were put into social housing but what happened was that some Irish people felt they were competing for council houses. It was an untruth.

The local primary school in Ballyjamesduff has 27 or 28 nationalities. Over 80% of the children attending the school have parents who are not from Ireland. Also, when you have local industries not able to source staff here, they go globally for the workers. Ballyjamesduff is a very diverse society because we are also in the commuter belt and lots of people have moved here from Dublin as well.

What is your main campaigning issue?

Roads are a big issue on the doors at the moment. It was the perfect storm, if you like with regard to this because of the weather. It has been raining since last June and also, because of inflation, the cost of carrying out works on the roads doubled and less roads were being maintained. When you're out canvassing people raise lots of concerns and problems with you. There is no one issue, there are many from medical cards and passports to housing and roads. The big ones for me are roads and housing. Public transport is also a big issue for people living in the town of Ballyjamesduff but we are hopeful that an improved 187 Bus Eireann service will be implemented later this year.

Should the biodiversity/climate crises be at the very top of the council's agenda?

I’m not sure if it should be at the very top but we do have to take it seriously. Definitely, there is an issue. But I don’t believe it should set the agenda. While it is very important, it shouldn’t dictate. Let’s take homeownership and car ownership in rural areas for example. We can’t survive in rural areas without a car whereas in the cities there is public transport. So transport services in rural Ireland need to improve greatly before people will abandon the car for the sake of climate change. It’s also important to note that farmers do their best for the environment because it’s in their interests to protect it.

Who, in the political sphere, has influenced you the most?

It’s said that to look forward you have to look back and when I was growing up there would have been a lot of local and national politicians. I'm going to be parochial now because my dad [Cllr Paddy Smith] was a politician and I followed him. So I would have to say that with regard to Local Government, I would have learned a lot from my dad and, if I could fill his shoes, I’d be quite happy.