"Newbridge needs a new bridge" says Kildare South poll-topper Martin Heydon

Fine Gael’s Martin Heydon topped the tally in Kildare South with 21.5% of the vote. That figure represents the safety of his position, but signs indicate that percentage could increase when official numbers emerge after the first count.

“The first count is actually going to be a little bit different (compared to the tally),” Heydon said. “We are hearing slightly different figures now and that the tally is a bit off and that I might be a bit higher than the tally had suggested. Either way I’ll be short of the quota, but delighted to have topped the poll as the result looks now.”

Heydon has now been a Kildare South TD for the last 14 years and has once again seen a strong display of faith from his constituency.

He said, “It is a huge testament to the remarkable team around me. I am so grateful to the people of Kildare South for putting their trust in me because that is what they have done here again today. The team that I have worked with is Mary and Rosemary in the office, who have been with me since the very first day in 2011. As well as six great councillors across South Kildare and we pride ourselves on working really well together on the local and national level. I think that is the secret to the success here today.”

The Fine Gael TD had a clear top priorities list when prompted following the positive indications of the tallied votes with infrastructure and school places emerging instantly. The latter of which has been the subject of widespread media coverage with primary school students struggling to secure secondary school places in Kildare and nationwide.

“A key priority is infrastructural projects that are to be delivered. We need more school places. There is a lot of stress on students, and on their parents, who are transitioning from primary to secondary. We need the delivery of that infrastructure quicker. It takes too long in this country to deliver those extensions and those new schools. That is something that Simon Harris has said clearly in this campaign that he wants to address. Taking on measures whatever new government would agree to to address those challenges,” Heydon said.

“We need a second bridge for Newbridge and we have a load of projects to complete in Athy. We have over €100 million spent in Athy from government funding. Athy is about to really turn a corner in terms of that investment coming through. Our rural communities have really benefitted from the extension of the local link bus as well.”

Heydon’s tallied votes had him a massive 4.2% clear of the next candidate Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fáil), which represented 1,675 votes with that gap potentially growing after the first count.

The more than likely Kildare South poll-topper concluded, “Our sport and voluntary sector with really significant sports capital grant funding (has benefitted), so I look forward to continuing to work for those organisations, small businesses and individuals across the term ahead to continue to make Kildare an even better place to live, to work and to raise a family in.”