Blanaid Adamson from Mullingar is a mother of four and regularly swims in Lough Owel. She is also a tutor delivering accredited and non accredited wellness modules/ classes to early school leavers and people with disabilities. When canvassers knock on her door, she knows exactly what issues she will bring up.
“I will ask them about their disability policy. I work with the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and they have had a rough year with threats of strikes over staff levels and pay. It was as if the government didn’t realise they should pay the staff properly or that they should value the vital service they provide,” she recalled.