Donegal's newest councillor, Pauric McGarvey, has mica priorities on his mind

Donegal's newest councillor is currently in the process of moving from his mica/defective block-affected home and says he knows first-hand the frustration of what thousands are currently going through.

Pauric McGarvey will be coopted onto Donegal County Council tomorrow, Monday at a special meeting at headquarters in Lifford. He will replace his uncle, Ireland's oldest public representative, Ian McGarvey who has decided to retire.

A native of Rathmullan, Mr McGarvey is 34 years old and married to Marie-Claire (née O'Donnell, Kirkstown, Letterkenny). They have three children, Mason (11), Cody (9) and Hallie (2). He has worked for the Kernan Group in retail for the past 10 years and is currently their retail area manager based in Letterkenny.

The incoming councillor said he was looking forward to the opportunity of representing the people and continue upholding his uncle's commitment to serving the people.

"I hope I can do as much as he did. Ian's priority was putting people first and I intend to continue doing that. I am lucky I can call on his knowledge and support and it will be invaluable when it comes to making sure the council know about the issues affecting people and their everyday lives."

He identified many areas of concern in the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District such as housing, water services, mica/defective blocks, roads, rural infrastructure, broadband, innovation hubs for smaller towns and villages, employment, community services, sports facilities, funding, the physical and mental wellbeing of the communities and said he would be fighting to improve all services that the people in the district depending on.

Mr McGarvey said the growth of places like Letterkenny and indeed all the towns and villages in the municipal district meant there was always something new needed.

"I will be there as a starting point for people to go to and I am to help them in every way I can. Being an independent councillor I won't be tied to any single way of doing things or policy so my hands will be free to explore all options that make our lives better.

"I look at being an independent councillor as an opportunity more than anything else. I will learn as I go along but I am willing to listen to experience too. I have been out with Ian on election campaigns since 2004 and stood on many doorsteps listening to the very real concerns and worries of the electorate."

The plight of around 1,100 people on group water schemes and the controversy surrounding the switch over to Irish Water/Uisce Éireann is also something very close to his heart.

"I want to make sure the level of service affecting our water supplies is maintained now that Donegal County Council has been 'divorced' from being involved in the service. There are a lot of people affected and costs seem to be going up all the time. It looks like it's going to get worse so I will be fighting to make sure  this is brought under control."

The incoming councillor says mica will also be one of the big issues on his agenda. He is currently in the process of moving from his current home in Letterkenny to his grandmother's home which he bought recently as his own house is affected by the mica/defective blocks.

"I am one of those affected by the mica/defective blocks issue so I know first-hand what people are going through. I feel their frustration about the lack of progress while at the same time trying to deal with it and all the red tape around it. I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel for us because we've all been waiting far too long to have this matter sorted out once and for all."