Ex-Labour councillor Catherine Connolly is running once again as an independent candidate in Galway West. A practising barrister, Connolly was elected to Galway City Council under the Labour banner in 1999 and again in 2004. However, she ran in the 2007 general election as an independent candidate and was eliminated with less than 4 per cent of first preference votes. She was returned to the council as an independent for a third term in June 2009.

Policies

• The provision of homes for the 4,000-plus households waiting up to 10 years on a local authority list
• Smaller class sizes and no third level fees
• Provision of an integrated public transport system including light rail
• Addressing the pollution of the Corrib and the danger posed by invasive species

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