Fine Gael is expected to hold its three current seats in this 'young' county council area, writes Patsy McGarryCouncil profile: South Dublin
South Co Dublin is among the "youngest" of the State's county councils, at just 10 years old. It has a population of 234,000 and 26 councillors. Although Fianna Fáil has the largest number of seats at eight, it has had to agree to rotate the position of mayor with the other main parties, due to the spread of seats among them.
The present mayor is Cllr Máire Ardagh, wife of Seán Ardagh TD.
A shortage of school places, the location of halting sites, the works on the Red Cow roundabout and traffic congestion at Newlands Cross are among the main issues in this socially diverse council area.
However, candidates from all parties agree that anti-social behaviour by young gangs is the main issue on doorsteps. Sources from all parties say this applies as much whether in middle-class or local authority areas.
The lack of facilities in Palmerstown and Quarryvale is another bone of contention. In the rapidly growing Lucan electoral area, the shortage of primary and secondary school places is "the main issue by a long shot", one councillor said.
The future of Peamount Hospital is also a concern, as is the Red Cow flyover or, as one candidate describes it, "the car-park in the sky". Many locals fear it will do nothing to relieve congestion until local traffic is properly managed underneath.
Housing is another issue raised on doorsteps in an area which has 5,000 people on its housing list, with just 638 units built since the last local elections. Housing is as serious an issue in middle-class areas, where children of home-owners in maturing developments are concerned for children entering the first-time-buyer category.
The construction of a halting site for Travellers has become an issue in Tallaght Central. Generally, planning has not featured greatly to date, despite the tribunals.
Indeed candidates are bemoaning voter apathy. In the last local elections there turnout was as low as 30 per cent in some areas, with one candidate saying it was less than that and "the lowest in the country" in Clondalkin.
Sinn Féin is targeting seats in Tallaght South and Tallaght Central particularly, where it already has a councillor in each area. Mark Daly is in Tallaght Central, and Cathal King replaced Seán Crowe TD in Tallaght South when the dual mandate legislation came into force.
Sources locally believe that if the party makes gains, it could be in Tallaght Central. A rigid strategy is being implemented, with the area divided surgically between Mark Daly and Seán Ó Cadhla. It is felt locally that Labour councillor Don Tipping is their target.
Socialist Party candidate Mick Murphy may also prove attractive there to the dissident vote. Sinn Féin has a candidate in the other three electoral areas in the county but is not expected to win any of them.
Fine Gael is expected to hold its three current seats: Stanley Laing, deputy mayor of the county, in Terenure-Rathfarnham, Therese Ridge in Clondalkin, and Paul Ringland in Tallaght Central.
The party is clearly hoping to make gains in Lucan, where it has no seat but is putting up two candidates this time, and in Terenure-Rathfarnham where it is running three candidates, including Cllr Laing.
It is hoping, as do Labour and the Green Party, to take what was the Independent seat there held by Meg Murphy.
The Greens, who hold a seat in Lucan, are fielding one candidate in each electoral area. The Fianna Fáil seat in the Lucan electoral area may change hands. Held by Deirdre Doherty-Ryan, based in Palmerstown, it is believed she may be vulnerable to party colleague Des Kelly, based in Lucan village. FF is expected to hold its three seats in Terenure-Rathfarnham, with Vincent Kenny thought likely to scrape in for the party there on transfers.
In Clondalkin Fianna Fáil has put up four candidates, all based in Clondalkin village, including outgoing councillor Sheila O'Brien. This "tactic" has bewildered people locally, who believe the party will hold its seat there, whoever that holder may be.
Labour has put up two candidates there, where it has one seat. The wisdom of that is also being questioned locally. Some wonder whether Labour and Fianna Fáil might be targeting Independent councillor Colm McGrath's seat. With a strong base in Clondalkin, he might have problems securing transfers, not least when up against six candidates from FF and Labour.
Labour is fielding 11 candidates altogether in the county, where it now has five seats. Feasibly it could gain a seat in Terenure-Rathfarnham at the expense of Fianna Fáil, and at a long shot in Clondalkin, again at the expense of FF. On the other hand it may be vulnerable to SF in Tallaght Central, and Eamonn Tuffy seems to be in FF sights in Lucan.