Hayes selected as Soc Dem candidate in Kimmage-Rathmines

Eoin Hayes, a small business owner, is the new candidate for Dublin City Council for the Social Democrats in the Kimmage-Rathmines local electoral area, after sitting councillor Tara Deacy has decided not to run again in the June local elections.

Hayes was confirmed as the new candidate at a party selection convention event last Thursday attended by several dozen people from the area.

Hayes said he has been a renter for “all his adult life” and is currently locked out of buying a home.

To that end, he sees housing as the biggest issue facing the city.

“Current government policies have utterly failed to grapple with the enormity of the problem,” he said. “Dublin city is badly in need of new housing, and its failure to build more has generated twin crises of availability and affordability for people like me and an entire generation of young people.”

Hayes runs a consultancy to help small businesses develop and grow, in particular in the climate sector. Hayes lives in Rathgar, and sees housing as part of a larger quality of life issue:

“We deserve the same standard of living as that available in any other modern European capital city: strong public transport links, safe cycleways, clean and calm streets, and green spaces we can thrive and play in – communities that are safe, people-centred, and fun.”

“During her tenure Cllr. Deacy worked tirelessly on a number of issues impacting the Kimmage-Rathmines community including the improvement and rejuvenation of our public spaces, revitalising our villages and making our playgrounds and playing spaces more accessible and safer for us all. This work was done collaboratively with a number of community groups who play an integral role in this community.”

“I want to continue her hard work on behalf of our communities in Kimmage, Harold’s Cross, Terenure, Rathmines, Rathgar, Crumlin, and Drimnagh.”

Welcoming the selection of Eoin Hayes, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said, “Eoin Hayes is exactly the kind of candidate we want to see running for the Social Democrats in this year’s local elections – one who is honest, principled and committed to our party’s progressive policies in areas like health, housing, public services and the environment.”

“It’s so exciting to see candidates like Eoin interested in effecting the kind of change that people around the country are ready for. Like me, they want to see an end to the old style of politics that has held Ireland back from reaching its full potential,” she added.

“With the party continuing to grow, I’m really looking forward to working with Eoin and building on the momentum behind the Social Democrats as we enter an exciting new phase.”