Lisa planning another local election tilt for Labour
13 years after her first tilt in the local elections for Labour, Athlone's Lisa Malone has decided to throw her hat in the ring once more.
While she candidly admitted she lost faith in the party in the past, Lisa is buoyed up by the new leader Ivana Bacik, who she believes is a strong lady and a strong leader who is in touch with the people on the ground.
Based around fairness and equality, the Bealnamulla resident believes the party can make a comeback in Athlone and around the country because people are hungry for change.
"I know it's local politics and there is a huge difference to national politics but I think if you can create some change, even at local level, it's a good thing," she told the Westmeath Independent on Friday after announcing her intention to seek the nomination to run in the next local elections online on the Conor's Journey Facebook page.
Lisa has come to local prominence in recent years as an advocate for her son Conor, who suffers from EDS, and she has been successful fundraising for him to have the first of two planned surgeries in Spain via the Conor's Journey fundraiser.
While the Athlone native admitted health is a major priority for her, in particular the "crazy" waiting lists, housing is also crucial and the living conditions people are struggling with.
Lisa said she also intends to fight for the establishment of a centre of excellence in Ireland for the 300,000 plus people living with a rare disease in Ireland and she hopes the party will back her in this aim.
Another major local issue for her is the need for more autism classes in local secondary schools in Athlone. As a mother of a child with autism, who is lucky enough to be able to mainstream school and class, she knows many more who need the extra help and they shouldn't have to fight for it.
"I'm reading about parents having to drive 40 or 50 miles to a school and 40 or 50 miles home and the huge impact that has on families. It's massive. I think locally we need more places for children with autism.
"Housing is a huge issue locally. I'd also like to see more feet on the street in terms of security and gardai, that's huge," added Lisa.
Asked why she announced her intentions now, Lisa Malone replied: "It's been a fight for the last few years everything in this country is a fight. You have to fight to get this and that. They are basic human rights - health and housing - and I'm sick of having to fight for everything.
"I'm sick of having to expose yourself, expose your family for your basic human rights. That's a big thing for me - everyone should be able to have a roof over their head. I heard of a girl this week living in a house in Athlone with her daughter with absolutely no heating. She's keeping herself warm with hot water bottles and fluffy blankets. In 2022, that is scandalous."
The council needs to get back to what it did years ago, and that's build social housing for people instead of outsourcing it to others, she maintained, saying while some of the issues will be hard to progress at local level, if elected, Lisa vowed to use her influence and the party structure at national level to bring about change.
"Am I mad giving it another shot, probably," she admitted candidly before adding that she likes a challenge. "Have I not got enough going on in my life? I'm a glutton for punishment. I probably am mad because I have a huge amount going on and I will have for the foreseeable future, but I'm the type of person if I can help someone, I'll try my best to help them even with whatever is going on in my own life."
And Lisa believes, if given the chance Ivana Bacik "will deliver for the people".
The Labour party has been contacted for comment on their plans in the Athlone area.