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Laura Keyes

Laura Keyes

Rabharta

I bring a person-centred approach to politics where people's voices are at the centre of all decision making and planning. People know best what they need and how best to implement it. They are the experts and should be involved from conception right through to delivery on plans that impact them.

Priorities

  • Health

    By taking a public health and systems thinking approach to planning we can improve overall health and wellbeing of Limerick people.

  • Housing

    With rent controls, direct delivery of public housing by council and development of derelict and vacant sites, we can ease the housing crisis.

  • Environment & energy

    I want to improve air and water quality, deliver green spaces, active travel infrastructure, co-operative renewable energy projects plus much more.

These answers were provided by the candidate

Taxes and charges
1 of 21 questions
Local Property Tax rates in Limerick should be reduced, even if it means cutting spending on local services and amenities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Property taxes are needed. The biggest problem with them is the lack of transparency on what the money is spent on. I want to bring in publications on the detail of the expenditure by Council of the money collected from people's property taxes."

- Laura Keyes
Taxes and charges
2 of 21 questions
Commercial rates in Limerick should be reduced to help local businesses, even if it means cutting spending on local services and amenities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I don't agree with lowering the overall intake from commercial rates, this is a key income stream for council and much needed in order to provide services. I would however like to see a more nuanced approach to rates where smaller businesses pay less and larger pay more. "

- Laura Keyes
Taxes and charges
3 of 21 questions
On-street parking charges should be reduced, even if it means cutting spending on local services and amenities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Housing
4 of 21 questions
The Council should increase the percentage of social and affordable housing in all new developments
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We need mixed housing both in terms of type (apartments/houses) and demographic. As mayor I want to bring construction expertise back to council and have council directly build housing where rents can be linked to income. We will also build council owned and run student accommodation."

- Laura Keyes
Housing
5 of 21 questions
If someone refuses an offer of social housing, they should be put to the back of the waiting list
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "There are many valid reasons for someone to refuse an offer of social housing e.g. proximity to an abusive ex partner, not sufficiently adapted to disability need. There are already safeguards in place against unreasonable refusals."

- Laura Keyes
Housing
6 of 21 questions
More accommodation for Travellers should be built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Lack of adequate accommodation is affecting Traveller health, education and access to employment. I want to enter meaningful engagement with the Traveller community in order to design accommodation that will meet their needs and promote equality and inclusivity."

- Laura Keyes
Housing
7 of 21 questions
Too many one-off rural houses are being built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Compact growth is crucial to meeting transport targets and providing services. The further homes are from schools shops, facilities and amenities, the less chance people will walk, cycle or use public transport. "

- Laura Keyes
Housing
8 of 21 questions
To increase housing density in urban areas, new developments should be limited to one parking space per house
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I am in favour of reducing the dependency on car ownership we have in Limerick through improving public transport and active travel and ensuring compact development of urban areas. Limiting the number of parking spaces per house is not the most effective way to achieve this."

- Laura Keyes
Transport
9 of 21 questions
The provision of public transport (rail and bus) should be prioritised over building roads
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Prioritising public transport reduces emissions, congestion, road accidents, noise and air pollution, is more energy efficient and cost effective, boosts local economies, is better use of space, promotes accessibility, mobility, equity, inclusivity and active lifestyles, and overall quality of life."

- Laura Keyes
Transport
10 of 21 questions
Too many bike lanes are being built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We need a cylce network in Limerick. Currently we have cycles lanes that aren't joined up and aren't as heavily used as they could be because complete trips can't be completed using them. "

- Laura Keyes
Transport
11 of 21 questions
Road projects such as the N/M20 and the Northern Distributor Road must be urgently progressed
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The area of the NRD does need development but the current proposal is an out of date view of development and is building on flood plains. Development of the N20 is needed but so is a proper intercity rail between Limerick and Cork which given the need to cut emissions should be prioritised."

- Laura Keyes
Transport
12 of 21 questions
More streets in Limerick city and town centres should be pedestrianised
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Pedestrianised streets offer a range of benefits: reduced emissions, lower noise pollution, boost for local businesses, enhanced public spaces, safer streets. They also promote social interaction and community activities fostering a sense of community and belonging. "

- Laura Keyes
Transport
13 of 21 questions
The new 30km/h speed limit in Limerick city centre should be extended to more urban areas
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Reducing speed limits leads to lower air and noise pollution, reduced emissions. energy efficiency of vehicles, better traffic flow, better mobility, urban livability, support for active transport, reduced healthcare costs from fewer accidents, support for local businesses from increased footfall."

- Laura Keyes
Health
14 of 21 questions
To address the trolley crisis, it is better to expand capacity in the UHL emergency department than to re-open other emergency departments in the region
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "To inform this decision we need to see the review of ED services in the Mid-West which is currently being undertaken. Decisions like this should be evidence based. We do however need urgent action to address the trolley crisis, action that as Mayor, I will have as my number one priority."

- Laura Keyes
Health
15 of 21 questions
The development of new private hospitals in Limerick will undermine the public health services and should be opposed
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "There is no straightforward answer to this question. It is about balancing needs within a system that is dependent on both public and private health services. "

- Laura Keyes
Law & order
16 of 21 questions
The Council should be more willing to evict local authority tenants who engage in anti-social behaviour
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "No, this solves a problem in one place only to create a bigger problem somewhere else. We need community based interventions to address anti-social behaviour. Where criminal offenses have been committed it is the responsibility of the Gardaí to intervene."

- Laura Keyes
Law & order
17 of 21 questions
The Council should step up efforts to impound horses that are held without licence
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Animal welfare is a very important issue to me. In the case of horses held without licenses there is both an animal welfare concern and a public safety concern. Impounding is step one, there then needs to be intervention from an animal rescue service which currently need more funding."

- Laura Keyes
Environment & energy
18 of 21 questions
More wind farms (including onshore) should be built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Renewable energy is essential for decarbonisation. However, the current profit driven model that links the price of renewable energy to international energy markets does not financially benefit the communities in which they are located. More local co-operative renewable energy projects are needed."

- Laura Keyes
Environment & energy
19 of 21 questions
It would be good for the region if the Shannon liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal went ahead
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Drilling, transporting and delivering fracked gas has a global warming footprint 44% greater than coal. The required sustainability and climate assessments were never conducted. The Irish government banned importing fracked gas in 2017 because of it's damaging impacts. "

- Laura Keyes
Immigration
20 of 21 questions
Some vacant buildings in Limerick should be used to alleviate the shortage of accommodation for asylum seekers
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Asylum seeks should be accommodated in appropriate accommodation. Community integration actions which require an interdepartmental approach, are also needed. "

- Laura Keyes
Immigration
21 of 21 questions
Limerick should accommodate a proportionate share of the asylum seekers who come to Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion