Profile: All 18 Sligo-Leitrim candidates running in today's general election

Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny TD is too hoping for a seat in the Dáil. 

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The Leitrim native has been a member of Leitrim County Council for over a decade, and was elected to the Dáil in the general election of 2016, representing Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan and South Donegal.

The father of four believes that we “need a government that will support rural communities, particularly those in the northwest of Ireland,

“Like many families living in the northwest, my now adult children have sought work and education outside this region. While of course I want my children to have the opportunity to travel and work elsewhere I also want them to have the chance to build their future in this region,” he concluded. 

Mr Kenny believes the areas of Ireland with hidden potential are the rural regions, but emigration is something that still looms. 

“This drives me to want a change for my friends, my family, and my community,” he said. 

One of his most important policies is that of housing, explaining that Leitrim has seen the highest year-on-year rent increase in the last number of Daft.ie surveys.

On the hot topic of the ongoing housing crisis, the TD said, “We now have two and three generations of families living in one house because of the cost of rent, or some families who are facing delays in getting planning permission to build on their family land.”

The Sligo-born politician wants to see a move towards a fairer Ireland, where people have the opportunity to live and flourish in their rural communities. 

As Agriculture spokesperson, he is committed to securing the family farm, which is the backbone of many rural communities.