Veteran Austin rolls back the election years

SANTRY resident Austin McCoy, 81 years young, will prove that age is no barrier when he contests the Ballymun ward as an Independent candidate in the local elections on May 23.

When it comes to elections – local and general -Austin, chairperson of Lorcan Estate Residents’ Association, has been there and worn the political t-shirt.

In the 1987 General Election, he went up against one CJ Haughey in the Dublin North Central constituency. He also contested the 1991 and 1999 Local Elections in the Artane ward but failed to claim a seat on both occasions.

Austin, well known for his community activism over the last 50 years, also canvassed for the late Sean Dublin Bay Loftus when the latter was bidding for a seat in Dail Eireann so he certainly won’t be short of experience this time round.

In his election literature, Austin, a founder member of community radio station NEARFM, describes himself as the community candidate and an advocate for senior citizens’ concerns. He said his decision to run wasn’t on the spur of the moment.

“I had been thinking about it for the last two years,

? he told Northside People.

“It was well thought out. It wasn’t on impulse. There could be raised eyebrows because of my age but I don’t think senior citizens will be surprised.

“Senior citizens represent approximately one in eight people in this country and around 80 per cent are surviving on the State pension which is e230.

“I feel the majority are being very hard done by with the extraction of monies for services which had been provided for many years.

?

Austin believes that a community-based senior citizen should provide representation for elderly persons.

“The indications are that there will be no improvement in this regard in the immediate future,

? he declared.

“Senior citizens should look at organising themselves into a forum, which would have a better opportunity at making their needs and concerns felt.

?

Austin is a co-presenter on a programme for senior citizens which is broadcast once a week on Coolock-based NEARFM.

He feels the introduction of the property tax and the imminent water charges, in particular, will lead to a lot of hardship for residents.

Last year, Austin and fellow members of Lorcan Estate Residents’ Association, bombarded the Government with letters demanding to know exactly where their property tax money was going.

They targeted Taoiseach Enda Kenny, leaders of all the political parties, every minister in the Cabinet, local TDs, senators and the Dublin city manager.

Austin personally sent out almost 30 letters.

“There was a lot of toing and froing between the Government departments but eventually everybody replied,

? Austin told Northside People at the time.

“In our opinion there were no definitive answers as to what our property tax money would be used for. We were dismayed by this.

?

Austin said that if elected, he would demand that monies collected in household tax be expended in the local areas where they are collected; fight for grants/tax relief for the installation of water butts and other approved water retention systems; fight for adequate provision for community centres and sporting facilities; and call for the provision of a designated person/persons in every constituency who will be responsible for liaising with residents on local planning applications.

“If elected, I will represent the concerns of the community to the best of my ability,

? he added.