Family

Raising a family in Ireland can be very expensive and as technology is now a fact of everyday life, it is imperative that we provide the security and education needed to safeguard our children. We all want to protect our children, live in an affordable home and have a good quality of life. This is no more than you deserve. You have brought your concerns to my attention and I will be focusing on these key issues.

• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is one of the great dangers of our age which has caused untold damage to the lives of young people. Many of us have not grown up with social media and so find it very difficult to understand and protect our children from the dangers of the internet. I have raised this issue in the Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil and have requested the Department of Education work with a reputable technological company specialising in protecting and educating children in primary schools. It is essential our children grow up protected and learn what is appropriate online behaviour.
• Affordable Childcare Facilities: The availability and provision of affordable childcare facilities is a problem facing many young families in Tipperary and across Ireland. Many of you have told me of the financial burden of one whole salary being spent on childcare alone or the need to get a grandparent to look after your children because there is no suitable facility nearby. This cannot continue and I am working with my team of county councillors to address this issue locally while I raise the issue at a national level with the Department of Children and Youth Affaires.
• Brexit: The likelihood of a No Deal Brexit is looming closer every day and its impact will be broad ranging, not just on Tipperary but on Ireland as a whole. The farming community and businesses who trade with the UK will be most at risk and this will have a ripple effect in many different sectors. I have been working closely with the Department of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs to seek clarification on what this will mean on a practical level. I am petitioning the government to provide financial assistance to those most affected to find alternative new markets for their products and services.
• Cancer Screening: Cancer is an issue close to my heart and there is scarcely a home which has not had this terrible disease come to a family member or loved one. I’m committed to ensuring funding for more cancer screening units in Tipperary to provide early detection to save lives. I am also campaigning government to provide more cancer research facilities to identify the causes of cancer and petition for the availability of additional cancer treatment clinics for those affected.