Councillor John Naughten and Dympna Daly-Finn have been selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the Roscommon-Galway constituency at the next General Election.
It had been expected that Ballinasloe's FG senator Aisling Dolan would have been selected on the ticket after her high profile work in the area in recent years.
Instead party members selected Cllr Naughten and Ms Daly-Finn at the convention held in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon, which was chaired by Maria Walsh MEP.
Fine Gael have now chosen 63 General Election candidates in 39 constituencies.
Cllr John Naughten, a brother of resigning TD Denis Naughten said it is an honour to be selected to contest the General Election.
"If elected, I will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of Fine Gael and the people of the Roscommon Galway constituency as I have done over the 21 years I have served on Roscommon County Council.
“Among the key issues I will be continuing to highlight is housing, including housing grants for the elderly and those with a disability, and the issue of village regeneration.
“We must ensure there is positive discrimination in terms of funding for infrastructure projects in the West, particularly for counties such as Roscommon and Galway. We must invest in regenerating our rural towns and villages to make them attractive places to live and raise a family." he said.
“As a farmer, I am all too familiar with the challenges facing agriculture and I am committed to reducing the amount red tape and to ensuring farmers can achieve a fair income.
“As a parent, I am committed to assisting families, particularly those seeking services for children with additional needs. We must look at new ways of addressing waiting lists to ensure children can access the services they need and I am committed to working with organisations, schools and the health services to see how this can be achieved.
“Health services will continue to be to the fore of my agenda and, if elected, I will work tirelessly to see increased bed numbers delivered at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and the development of a new adult mental health facility along with progressing development of the rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital.
“With your help I look forward to continuing to deliver for the people of this area," Cllr Naughten concluded.
Dympna Daly-Finn said she is absolutely delighted and overwhelmed to be selected to represent the people of Roscommon/Galway for Fine Gael in the next General Election.
“After narrowly missing out in the local elections, I feel I have momentum to carry into the General Election and secure the seat back for the party. I’m looking forward to getting back out canvassing and engaging with people.
“I am passionate about living in our constituency and I’m delighted that the Boyle municipal area has been moved back to Roscommon Galway.
“I want to secure as many first preference votes as possible to secure one or two seats and put Fine Gael back on the map in Roscommon Galway," she concluded.
