Community empowerment for Limerick East
SF seek to improve vote in by-election
By Marcas Mac Ruairí
THOUGH no date has yet been set for the Limerick East
by-election, the Sinn Féin candidate in the
constituency has emphasised the need for more community
empowerment.
Criticising the way community funding has been used in
the past, Jenny Shapland.called for more openess and
for people in disadvantaged areas of the constituency
to be consulted with a view to tackling
marginalisation.
A mother of two teenage boys, Jenny has been selected
to represent Sinn Féin in the forthcoming by-election
which was caused by the death of Labour TD, Jim Kemmy
in September.
Born in England to Irish parents, she came to live in
Limerick in 1989. Her mother, Mary Monaghan, was born
and raised in Garryowen. Her road to politics began in
Abington, England where, bearing an Irish name, she was
the focus of much anti-Irish racial abuse.
She joined Limerick Sinn Féin seven years ago and
quickly became a driving force in the party locally,
focusing activists on community issues.
Living in the sprawling Moyross estate, she has
campaigned for improved housing conditions, resources
for the unemployed and facilities for the youth.
Particularly concerned about the growing drugs problem
in the city, she comments: ``Though harder drugs such as
heroin are not yet especially prevalent in Limerick, it
can only be a matter of time before they become more
easily available.
``Part of the problem is that dealers can operate with
obvious immunity from the Gardaí, while political and
community activists in Sinn Féin have found themselves
victim to constant surveillance and harassment.''
``Everyone knows who the main drug dealers are, but no
action is taken against them. And we have a system that
allows the Corporation to evict people from Corporation
houses who are supposed to be involved in anti-social
behaviour.
``The irony is that the main dealers in the Limerick
area are operating from their cosy private houses in
cosy private estates.
She continued: ``Unfortunately there is an inextricable
link between drugs and crime. The biggest problem
facing the youth of large estates like Moyross or South
Hill is unemployment and boredom. It is estimated that
in these estates there is up to 70 percent
unemployment.
``While the problem is not strictly a working class one,
I believe this backgound provides a breeding ground for
drug abuse and anti-social behaviour.''
Jenny continued: ``A compehensive strategy to tackle the
problem should involve a dialogue with the youth of
Limerick themselves, addressing their needs. We must
work with teenagers and not against them.
``In each youth club in Limerick there should be a drugs
counsellor who can effectively communicate with the
youth on this pressing issue.
``Training facilities, involving the multi-national
companies and major employers in the area should also
be developed which can help ensure that the cycle of
unemployment and poverty is broken.''
In the coming weeks An Phoblacht provide a weekly focus
on the issues Sinn Féin will raising in the Limerick
East and Dublin North by-elections.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)