Outgoing TDs: Louise O’Reilly (SF), Joe O’Brien (GP), Darragh O’Brien (FF), Alan Farrell (FG), Duncan Smith (Lab)
Who are the Dublin Fingal West constituency candidates?: Deputy Louise O’Reilly (SF), Deputy Joe O’Brien (GP), Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee (FF), Cllr Robert O’Donoghue (Lab), Grace Boland (FG), Robbie Loughlin (Aon), Cllr Tony Murphy (Ind), Bryn Edwards (PBP), John Oakes (IFP), Mark Joseph Parsons (TIP)
Previously part of the five-seat Dublin Fingal constituency, the new three-seater includes the coastal towns of Balbriggan, Skerries and Rush, as well as areas in the west such as Naul, Garristown, Dublin Airport and part of Santry in the south.
Aside from housing, issues include pressure on schools and childcare, and aircraft noise is front and centre of the electorate’s mind in some places. Recent changes to the Irish Rail timetable caused consternation among commuters, and public transport is a big issue.
Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly should retain her seat notwithstanding her party’s recent slide in the polls but it might be closer than her camp would like.
After that it will be a scrap for the other two seats. Green Party Minister of State Joe O’Brien will miss out on the support of some who voted for him last time around in the south of the county and has a battle on his hands, though he should not be ruled out for a return to the Dáil.
There is no Labour, Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael incumbent in this part of the old Dublin Fingal constituency. Rush-based Labour Party councillor Robert O’Donoghue performed very well in June’s local elections with almost 3,200 votes. More recently before the electorate than others in the field, he is a credible candidate with a good chance of taking a seat.
Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee was unlucky to lose a chunk of her support base on the Donabate peninsula in last year’s constituency review. However, she has campaigned previously in areas included in Dublin Fingal West – with much focus on Rush and Lusk – and is one of the better-known candidates in the field.
Fine Gael has selected Skerries-based solicitor Grace Boland as its candidate. She is the daughter of the late TD John Boland, the minister for education who abolished corporal punishment in schools. She has highlighted his work in establishing public parks such as Ardgillan as she embarks on her own bid for elected office. Balbriggan-based Tony Murphy – a well-known indpendent councillor who also had a good local election – should not be written off either.
Possible outcome: Sinn Féin (1), Labour (1), Scrap between Green Party, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for the other seat
