Sinn Féin Councillor Janice Boylan has vowed to be a voice that stands up for working class communities and to help deliver the meaningful change needed after decades of neglect by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Cllr Boylan was speaking after it was confirmed that she will stand in the upcoming general election in Dublin Central alongside party leader Mary Lou McDonald.

A mother of three and grandmother of two, Cllr Boylan has been a councillor on Dublin City Council for 10 years, first elected in 2014 and re-elected for a third term in June.

Speaking today, Cllr Boylan said:

“I was born in O’Devaney Gardens and have spent my entire life living in this constituency.

“I am a passionate advocate for our communities because I have seen, first hand, the devastating impact that the decades of neglect by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have had on decent people and hard-working communities right across this constituency.

“Our communities deserve so much better than that, and the upcoming general election offers the opportunity to turn the page on the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-made crises in housing, health and the cost of living.

“Our communities deserve strong leadership and strong representation, and that is why it is my honour to be selected to run alongside my party leader and friend Mary Lou McDonald.

“As a mother and grandmother, I am determined to play my part in building a better future for my three children and two grandchildren, and for everyone in our community looking to build a life for themselves.

“I strongly believe that there is no better vehicle to realise the hopes and ambitions of our communities than our party.

“We are the party that will make housing affordable, bring homeownership back into reach for working people, deliver fair rents and secure tenancies, and roll out the largest public housing programme in the history of the state.

“We are also the party that will deliver affordable childcare at €10 a day, and that will tackle the cost of living, including abolishing the USC for the first €45,000 of all workers’ income.

“Standing alongside Mary Lou, our message to the people of Dublin Central will be to ask them to vote for hope, ambition and delivery.

“There is a choice for voters to make between the repeated failures of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, or a new government led by Mary Lou that will roll-up its sleeves and get down to work, delivering real solutions and a better life for workers, families and communities.”

Teachta McDonald added:

“I am delighted to be joined on the ticket by Janice.

“Janice was born and raised in the Inner City. She has spent her entire adult life standing up for ordinary workers, families and our incredible communities.

“As a TD, Janice would be relentless in fighting your corner in Dáil.”