Seán Kyne TD

Seán Kyne TD was appointed Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources in May 2016. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2011 and represents the constituency of Galway West which encompasses the City, Oranmore/Claregalway and Connemara.

From 2004 to 2011, Seán was a member of Galway County Council for the Connemara Electoral Area.

Seán lives in Clydagh which is just outside his home village of Moycullen. He attended St. Mary’s College in Galway City before attaining a degree and Master’s degree in Agricultural Science at NUI Galway and UCD respectively.

For 11 years, Sean worked as an agri-environmental consultant with particular responsibility for the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme.

Since election in 2011 Seán has worked on a variety of issues including:

• Encouraging job creation whether by highlighting barriers to employment including rates, access to credit, access to the Financial Ombudsman, or by contributing to the debates on the Jobs Action Plan and the Jobs Initiative.
• Highlighting the ever-present need for the Outer Bypass and ensuring that the project is in a state of readiness pending a decision from Europe; contacting the NRA and NTA regarding other transport, including public, issues in Galway.
• Supporting the maintenance of the Social Protection budget which provides a vital safety net and support base which all citizens will need at some point and pressing for reform of the Social Welfare system e.g. the IT system, the management practices and so forth to ensure that the reduced resources reach those who most need them.
• Educational issues and emphasising, particularly among urban TDs, the importance of rural, DEIS and Gaeltacht schools to their respective communities;
• Energy sources including the issue of how to maximise the benefits from renewable energy sources particularly for schools and small, local businesses.
• Agricultural issues affecting Galway’s farming community.
• Turf-cutting on bogs, particularly in Connemara.
• Financial advice and supports available to people, particularly mortgage holders, and the regulation of such services.
• An Ghaeilge and how we can work to protect and promote our linguistic heritage as a living language.
• Working to build a fair and equal society where the rights of all, including LGBT citizens, persons with a disability and the elderly, are respected.