Taoiseach visits Carlow to kick-start candidate’s general election campaign

SCHOOL costs, SUSI grants and solar farms were among the issues discussed with taoiseach Simon Harris on his recent visit to Carlow.

The taoiseach was in town to help kick-start the general election campaign of Clonegal woman Catherine Callaghan, who made history recently by becoming the first female Fine Gael candidate in this constituency. 

Among the topics discussed were the return-to-school costs faced by parents. Catherine said one mother she spoke to had spent €400 on uniforms and €850 on electronic devices for just one secondary school student. The taoiseach pledged to look at these aspects of the education system.

“While free school books have been provided to primary and junior cycle students, many parents across the county are still feeling the financial strain from other expenses. I am committed to working with an taoiseach to ensure that these families receive the necessary relief,” she told The Nationalist.

“I am also calling on government to increase income threshold levels for SUSI grant applications,” she said. In relation to a proposed solar farm in the Killerig area, Catherine said: “I have requested an update from the relevant government department in relation to the Land Use Review Phase 2 and I shall be sharing the information I receive in due course.”