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CANDIDATE PROFILE
Orla Leyden is an experienced County Councillor with a background in community development work and social research. With changes to Local Government and a reduction in county councillors in County Roscommon from 26 to 18, Orlas proven track record in local government, understanding of public policy and community development will prove valuable on Roscommon County Council over the coming five years, if she is elected by you on the 23rd May. Born: Goff Street, Roscommon Town. Secondary School: Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Roscommon Town. University: Orla Leyden holds a B.A. International in Political Science & Sociology and Italian (2:1); M.Litt (Masters) in Political Science and Sociology (1:1); Diploma in Community Development Practice, NUI,G.
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Dear Voter
A Chara, Since first elected to Roscommon County Council in 2004, I fought to retain the 24/7 Accident & Emergency service at Roscommon County Hospital and totally oppose its closure. I support the retention of the 22 bed Acute Psychiatric unit at Roscommon County Hospital and continue to campaign for increased resources to improve the ambulance service in County Roscommon. I have proactively worked to realise important projects including rural transport, community & youth facilities and playgrounds. I have actively sought and delivered on vital infrastructure projects, water, housing, sewerage, bridges, roads, roundabouts, drainage, pedestrian crossings, footpaths, lights, signage, taking in charge of housing estates by the council and resolving derelict sites. I have worked with the business community to safeguard free parking throughout the county, promote it and reduce rates. I have opposed unwanted developments like Wind Turbines on Sliabh Ban and a Tetra Mast in Oran. I have always favoured sustainable and sensitive development that has the best interest of the local community at heart. If re-elected by you I will continue to promote job creation, tourism and deliver important infrastructural projects, services and facilities in Roscommon. I will continue to support agriculture and vital rural services including schools, Garda stations, post offices, rural transport services and community development projects. I seek your No. 1 vote to continue my work for you and the community. Mise le Meas,

Cllr. Orla Leyden

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County Councillor, Roscommon County Council; (First elected 2004; re-elected 2009); Deputy Mayor (2013-2014); Member of: GRETB, formerly Roscommon VEC; Chairperson Roscommon VEC (2010); Board of Governors, Athlone Institute of Technology; Roscommon Joint Policing Committee; Board of Roscommon Womens Network - RWN Projects: Training Centre, Project Match; I completed an evaluation report on the W.I.N.D.O.W project published April 2014; Quad Youth Centre Development & Management; Committee & Roscommon Lions Club; Chairperson Roscommon Community Sports Park Development; Board of Managements Roscommon Community College and Castlerea Community School; Roscommon Civic Trust: Edenville House (Cultural Heritage Tourism project); Former member (Board of Directors) Tulsk Action Group (Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre), and Roscommon Disability Support Group, Derrane.

Vote No.1

ORLA LEYDEN
to Roscommon County Council on 23rd May 2014 Roscommon Local Electoral Area
Polling Stations in: Ballinlough, Ballintubber, Ballyleague, Ballymurray, Castlerea, Castleplunkett, Cloonbonniffe, Clooncah, Cloonfad, Cloontuskert, Cloverhill, Fairymount, Four Mile House, Granlahan, Gorthaganny, Kilteevan, Lisacul, Loughglynn, Roscommon Town (Abbey N.S.), Roxboro, Runnamoate, Treen.

Vote 2, 3 in order of preference: Larry Brennan, Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice.

Cllr. Orla Leyden actively works with Local Resident Associations, Tidy Towns Groups, Fundraising Initiatives and Community Groups to realise important projects for the community.

Constituency office: Goff Street, Roscommon Town. Tel: 090 6634925; 087 2819918 Email: cllroleyden@roscommoncoco.ie Website: www.orlaleyden.com

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WORKING FOR HEALTH CARE Roscommon County Hospital: I fought to retain 24/7, Accident & Emergency service at Roscommon County Hospital and totally opposed its closure. I support the development of a 20 bed Rehabilitation Unit at Roscommon County Hospital. I support Mayo Roscommon Hospice Plans for development of 8 Bed Hospice Unit on the grounds of Roscommon County Hospital. Psychiatric Services: I will continue to Campaign to retain and enhance health services including mental health facilities and support in the County and to retain the twenty two bed acute Psychiatric unit at Roscommon County Hospital Ambulance Service: Continue to campaign for increased resources to improve Ambulance Service in County Roscommon. Support the work at Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon, Aras Mathair Pol, Castlerea and Private Nursing Homes throughout the area including Cloverhill, Ballyleague, Roscommon & Castlerea. Lobby for increased home help hours and housing grants for older people and people with disabilities. Support the work of Carers. DRINKING WATER I determinedly sought the installation of an interim treatment plant and filters for Roscommon Central Water Supply Scheme in 2013 for Roscommon town and surrounding area when there was an outbreak of cryptosporidium. If re-elected to Roscommon County Council and the new Roscommon Municipal District I will work to ensure that the Castlerea urban and rural water supply is upgraded as a priority and that there is a high standard of quality drinking water throughout the county. RURAL TRANSPORT SERVICES I initiated and provided the research (surveys and meetings) to develop a door to door rural transport service in Ballinaheglish, Oran & Cloverhill and the Kilbegnet & Fuerty with the support of Aughrim Kilmore Transport service. I was also an active member on the rural transport committee of Roscommon Disability Support Group, Derrane which sought and now has a disability access bus and service.
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WORKING EFFECTIVELY IN ROSCOMMON TOWN Succeeded in preventing the introduction of paid parking in Roscommon. Worked with Business community to promote free parking. Secured Saturday afternoon openings for Civic Amenity Sites in Roscommon. Supported the development of an additional 320 additional parking spaces off the Square, Roscommon town (coming on stream in the next year). Supported the development of a Taxi rank in the town. Supported the development of a new roundabout on Circular Road at the Mart/Dunnes Stores and the landscaping of roundabouts in the town from development contributions. Secured the provision of additional Pedestrian Crossings at the Abbey N.S., CBS to Library and McNeills. I continue to seek pedestrian crossings at Castle Street, Goff Street and in the village of Knockcroghery. Continue to seek Traffic Calming on the Athlone Road Seeking Traffic Calming in Lisnamult to deal with increased traffic from Gaels Pitch and Roscommon Community Sports Park. Funding secured for first stage of maintenance of paths in Loughnaneane Park and seeking funding for paving of Jail Lane as main town centre entrance into the Park and Castle. COMMUNITY & YOUTH FACILITIES I will continue to work with the community to provide more recreational spaces, provide new and upgrade existing play areas, develop additional sports and other facilities for young people in Roscommon Electoral Area including Youth Cafes and cyber hubs. I will continue to work to get the Cinema in Roscommon open again. I am working proactively with Roscommon Community Sports Park Committee and Lisnamult Residents Association to develop a Community Sports Park in Roscommon town. The first phase, an Astro Turf Pitch will be opened in May 2014. The next phases include dressing rooms, toilets/showers, realignment and drainage of existing pitch and development of an Athletics Track (planning granted).

EDUCATION Continue to work with AIT, Roscommon Leader Partnership, GRETB, RWN and other groups to create outreach education and development initiatives in Roscommon. Support adult and continuing education and training for men and women. Seeking funding from the Department of Justice & Equality for EWM funding to support the next phase of RWNs W.I.N.D.O.W. project which supports women into education/training, employment and enterprise. Support the development of and funding for the work of Mens Sheds in Roscommon Town, Ballyleague and throughout the county. I actively drove the agreement between AIT and County Roscommon VEC signed in 2013 to deliver increased educational opportunities for Roscommon over the coming years. For example, a Level 6 Business Management has been developed at Roscommon Community College where upon successful completion of this PLC course, students may proceed directly to the 2nd Year Higher Certificate in Business Administration at AIT. I also created links between AIT and the Quad Youth Centre (Foroige) which saw young people from Roscommon attending a weeks free tuition in Music and Games development and Games at AIT which has continued the last couple of summers. JOB CREATION Support indigenous enterprise development (16 small to medium enterprise sites developed recently on Racecourse Rd., Roscommon); identify opportunities for foreign direct investment in Roscommon LEA through the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in manufacturing and international services sector. Support existing business through continued rate reductions. Support the development of tourism, cultural heritage tourism and utilisation of our waterways. RURAL ECONOMY Fight for a Fair deal for farmers in CAP Reform and supports to ensure the viability of the family farm. Support rural enterprises. Fight to keep rural schools and other vital rural services including Garda stations, post offices, rural transport services and community development projects.

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Working with the Community

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