Tuite co-opted onto DLR

Lauren Tuite has been co-opted onto Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Tuite has replaced Green Party Councillor Una Power, who is going on maternity leave.

Stillorgan Councillor Eva Dowling introduced the co-option and outlined Tuite’s credentials.

It was noted that Tuite role as the founder of D8 Development which has been instrumental in restoring empty heritage buildings back into public use.

Tuite works with party leader Éamon Ryan across various departments, and will stand in Killeney-Shankill in June’s local elections.

Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gildea said that he looked forward to working with her over the next few months, expressing hope that “it will be longer” as Tuite will be facing election in June in  Killiney-Shankilll.

Labour’s Carrie Smyth also congratulated Tuite on her co-option, noting that they serve the same constituents and was looking forward to working with her.

Fine Gael’s Frank McNamara said “a new Councillor always brings new energy, and it is a very exciting time to join the Council.”

During her maiden speech on the Council, Tuite said her co-option was “fitting,” as she is filling in for a Councillor that is going on maternity leave and her own experiences as a new parent deepened her appreciation for the work carried out by the Council.

“It was the birth of my daughter that made me appreciate the work of the people in this building.”

“I’m sure there are people here in this chamber, parents, grandparents, minders who know the feeling of having to push the buggy for hours on and you come to know every crack of the footspot, how long it takes every pedestrian crossing to turn green.”

She said the progress has been “amazing” since the outbreak of Covid with regards to creating “smoother, safer places” to walk. The upcoming vote on the Pathfinder project is of significant interest to Tuite, who said that the plan, which is “the best” of 35 planned projects across Ireland to improve infrastructure.

The Council will vote next month on the Pathfinder transport plan, which would look to introduce a 10-minute town model to include segregated cycle facilities, an expansion of walking and cycling options into area surrounding Dun Laoghaire.

She said she possesses first-hand knowledge of the process from her time working in the Department of Transport, Tuite said that the project would have the best engineers and the best designers involved.

“This is a quality of life project. The consequences of prioritising private vehicles means that the very best stuff of our lives has been pushed to the sidelines. All of the beauty and drama of our lives is crowded onto footpaths while cars drive past.”

She said that on her time on the Council, she hoped she would vote for and work on projects that have a positive impact for her daughter’s generation and the city at large.