Harris brings election ‘energy’ to Cavan

Cavan-Monaghan could hold the same significance as any of the so-called ‘swing states’ in US presidential elections. The constituency has often served as a weather-vane for which way the wind of national consensus is blowing.

And so Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris arrived in Cavan Town on Monday with a steady wind at his back and some of that ‘new energy’ promise plastered across his party’s election branding. He’s “cautiously optimistic” at the prospect of Fine Gael doubling their representation here after polling closes on November 29. They haven’t had two candidates in his constituency since 2011.

The whistle-stop tour was so brief that the only pursing of lips were those of his exasperated entourage struggling to keep up as the fleet-footed leader bobbed in and out of shops along Main Street.

Flanked by outgoing TD, Minister and “legend” Heather Humphreys, as well as local candidates T.P. O’Reilly and Carmel Brady, Harris shook hands with business owners, briefly held up traffic, and even shuffled in beside Maureen Smith of Lisbree, Cootehill, and her daughter Martina as they settled for lunch at the Farnham Arm’s carvery.

It wasn’t all plain sailing however. If there was a tune for the Taoiseach to listen to, it was a familiar one.

In Boyle for Men, where Ricky Martin’s 1999 Latin pop hit ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’ blared from the radio, Ryan O’Donnell told the Taoiseach there was little prospect of a 27-year-old “trying to buy a house. It’s that not straight forward at the minute,” he said.

Nodding empathetically, and navigating these choppy waters, the Taoiseach revealed his party had just unveiled a €40 billion plan to deliver 303,000 new homes by 2030, with a target of 60,000 per year.

While first time buyer supports are “grand”, he acknowledged there is still an opportunity to do more.

If re-elected, Fine Gael pledges to increase relief under Help to Buy scheme to €40,000 - a 33% increase since the last adjustment in 2020.

“I think it’ll make a big difference,” ushered the Taoiseach, before shop assistant manager Ryan interrupts: “There’s not enough supply though.”

He adds: “It’s one thing getting approved for a mortgage, but when you’re going up against 100 other people for a house.”

Cllr O’Reilly, in politics since 2019 but better seasoned now as he heads into his second General Election fight, highlights how planning permissions lodged with Cavan County Council are up almost a third on 2023.

“What we sometimes forget is, in 2011, we built less than 7,000 homes,” reminds Harris quickly: “We’re on track for high thirties to early forties this year. We’ve just published a €40bn plan to get it to sixty by 2030. That’s where we need to get to.”

From shop worker Hayley Evesson, the Taoiseach faces the music on challenges with affordable childcare.

The Donegal native and mum of one tells Harris she is now “working to pay for my childcare”.

“It’s tough,” reveals Hayley, who has lived in Cavan 15 years and has being paying a mortgage for 10 of those.

The Taoiseach’s reply comes in two parts - immediate and long-term.

A €200 cap per child per month on costs is proposed. “For a lot of people childcare can really be a second mortgage,” he accepts, before moving onto how Fine Gael intends tackling the shortage of spaces available.

“We’re going to invest in 24,000 public places. We’re going to set up 100 State-run childcare facilities,” he pledges. Although private providers “do a great job”, he feels: “I’m not sure they’re ever going to be able to meet the supply on their own. I think the State has to get more involved.”

In all the Taoiseach called into close to a dozen local shops, all independently owned. He spoke to some about reducing the cost of PRSI, while cooing about how two out of three jobs in Ireland are provided by Irish-owned, small to medium sized businesses and the importance of that.

The Taoiseach departed Cavan but not before singing a different tune. A tribute to the retiring Minister Humphreys.

“Firstly Heather is a legend, she is a great friend of mine. She had just had an incredible vote here in Cavan-Monaghan, but also an incredible impact nationally in how she has gotten government thinking about rural Ireland.”

He fully understands her reasoning for stepping away, putting “family and well-being first”.

Yet he believes Fine Gael have a “really strong ticket”, and says they’re “playing for two seats”.

“Let me be very clear about that,” he states firmly. “We have a really good ticket, we take absolutely nothing for granted.”