Donegal general election - Frank O'Donnell- Independent

Former Donegal Fine Gael chair Frank O’Donnell has decided to run as an independent candidate, after becoming disillusioned with the party. 

“The reason I put my name forward is because I am a community activist and I have been since I came to Letterkenny 41 years ago,” he said.

“I retired last year from the hospital, and I thought to myself, I should put my experience to good use. I have seen a lot of problems in Donegal, and I have the time now. I love politics, and I love the trust of politics,” he added. 

He is well-known in the community, and believes he "can put something back into Donegal as it is a forgotten county. It truly is”.

In terms of the current government, he says: “Going off the last 10 years, it's not fair what they're doing to the people.”

“They're causing real mental anguish to the people whose houses are affected" in regards to the defective concrete blocks crisis, so I said enough is enough. If I can do anything, I should flag it and do it.”

His first point of call if elected is to find out what is going on with the waitlist programme for the people whose houses were affected by defective blocks.

“We have over 7,500 houses that are affected, that are registered, and we only have 300 rebuilds. That's unbelievably sad.”

The former Letterkenny hospital worker contacted the chairperson involved, requesting a list of contractors that can re-model and fix the homes victim to the defective blocks, in order to give people advice and clarity when canvassing.  

“Not only did he not give me a list, he doesn't have a list. He didn't acknowledge me and that was two weeks ago. That's the kind of attitude they're taking to Donegal. I don't think that's acceptable, I think it's the height of ignorance. At least answer my email.”

Mr O’Donnell hopes the people of Donegal take a risk and “give me a try”.