Mairead Kenny, an independent candidate from Donamon, Co Roscommon, has been nominated for the NUI panel in the upcoming Seanad election. A Program and Project Management Consultant, Kenny is focusing her campaign on tackling critical national issues such as housing, homelessness, and commuting.
Kenny brings over 20 years of professional experience to the race, including extensive work in housing advocacy for renters and homeless people. She is a graduate of UCD (Electrical & Electronic Engineering), TUS Athlone (Computing), and TUD (Law LLB). She also holds PMP® certification in project management and has completed additional Law Society of Ireland examinations. Kenny’s career spans both the private and public sectors, with her independent consultancy work commencing in 2015 after a long tenure at Ericsson Ireland and International.
Describing her approach, Kenny said her diverse work background in Ireland and abroad equips her with the skills needed to implement evidence-based policy changes that benefit communities across Ireland.
Campaign priorities
At the core of Kenny’s campaign are policies aimed at addressing housing, affordability, commuting and public transport, alongside broader concerns about what she refers to as the cost and waste associated with “unnecessary election campaign leaflets” and the lack of regional representation in the Seanad.
Kenny advocates for fairer treatment of renters, including amendments to legislation affecting large investment landlords, and opposes additional costs such as “parking license fees” and additional charges for “pet rent” for renters already paying “exorbitant rent”. She also supports expanding financial assistance for buyers, including the vacant property refurbishment grant.
Speaking on the housing crisis, Kenny highlighted the barriers faced by buyers and families: “People can’t afford to access existing grant schemes due to ‘up front’ costs, which are later reimbursed. We need funding models that cover planned expenses, not just finished works”.
Kenny has a strong record of advocacy for those experiencing homelessness and calls for expanded use of vacant properties for housing. She also criticises the lack of inclusion for homelessness in broader government planning.
Addressing the issue of lengthy commutes, particularly outside urban centres, Kenny supports legislative changes to improve working conditions for commuters and the development of better public transport infrastructure. She also highlights the need to tackle emissions and congestion.
Kenny’s health priorities include faster treatment for elderly patients in emergency settings, removing means-testing barriers for carers, and timely healthcare for children with scoliosis. She has pledged to ensure healthcare systems are more inclusive and prioritise patient consent and dignity.
Voter engagement
With over 112,000 eligible voters in the NUI Seanad electorate, Kenny is urging greater voter participation. She notes that only 34% of the electorate cast their postal ballots in the last Seanad election: “We need to address the apathy and ensure that ballots reach voters, not go undelivered. It’s frustrating when people express dissatisfaction with politics but haven’t registered to vote”.
A regional voice
Kenny also stresses the importance of regional representation in the NUI panel, where 9 of 12 candidates are Dublin-based: “There’s a significant gap in regional voices, particularly from areas like the West and South of Ireland.”
Kenny’s campaign promises to deliver pragmatic solutions grounded in her professional expertise and community advocacy. By focusing on accessibility, equality, fairness, and legislative reform, Kenny’s aim is to ensure that the Seanad addresses issues faced by ordinary people.
Her “sustainable” and “cost-conscious” campaign reflects her principles of accountability: “I haven’t wasted anyone’s money on my campaign. This is about serving the public, not spending lavishly to win”.
