Fine Gael selects Senator Aisling Dolan to contest Roscommon-Galway in General Election

Senator Aisling Dolan has been selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the Roscommon-Galway constituency in the General Election, alongside Dympna Daly-Finn.

Fine Gael have now chosen 78 General Election candidates in 43 constituencies.

Senator Dolan, who was added to the ticket following a meeting of Fine Gael’s Executive Council, said: “It is an honour to be asked by An Taoiseach Simon Harris to go forward as a Fine Gael general election candidate for Roscommon-Galway.

“I look forward to building on my track record over the past five years winning vital funding for our communities.

“As a government Senator, I have strongly advocated for many projects including the €450m Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue Rd now underway, the sod turned for the 50-bed block for Sacred Heart Residential Hospital in Roscommon and the €37 million for the newly opened 50-bed block in Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe.

“Since 2020, I’ve been the face of Fine Gael in the constituency working with thousands of people, with hundreds of community groups and sports clubs, working on major campaigns for school transport, Local Link Bus Services, the Cycleway. Together with Fine Gael Councillors we have welcomed the Taoiseach and multiple Ministerial colleagues to the constituency.

“I’m a negotiator and project manager by background and my journey as a public representative started as a community activist.

“My priorities are healthcare, investment and the environment – making the West the best place to call home and fighting for better services for our hospitals and healthcare teams in the community.

“We urgently need the Emergency Department expansion for Portiuncula Hospital and more treatment bays instead of trolleys earlier than 2027. I also want to see more GP supports and easier access to Home Help hours so people can live independently at home in their own towns and villages for as long as possible.

“Although we have seen €60 million come into communities for rural development and town regeneration in the past 5 years, we still have housing vacancy and derelict premises in the West. Retrofitting of older homes to bring down heating costs, more vacant home refurbishment to create new homes for families, are all issues I hope to continue working on.

“With long waitlists, access is urgently required for more early childcare places. We need to reduce costs for local shops, pubs and restaurants in small towns and to support small business-owners and entrepreneurs providing crucial jobs.

“Costs are rising and especially for farming families. Providing the highest quality grass fed beef and dairy yet struggling to meet more and more regulatory requirements is increasingly stressful. I want to see more supports for farmers who are the vibrant heart of our communities.

“To secure inward investment, I strongly believe we need a Fine Gael government TD for Roscommon-Galway to be a strong voice for the West.

“I look forward to asking for your Number One vote to build on our successes to date.”