Cllr. Shane Mc Guinness

18/10/2026

🏠 SOCIAL HOUSING IN LOUTH – THE FIGURES ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Following questions I raised with Louth County Council, figures have now been provided on social housing allocations in Louth since 2020.

Of the 3,876 housing allocations recorded up to 19th September 2026:

🔹 65.8% (2,552) were recorded under Irish citizenship.

🔹 34.2% (1,324) were recorded under non-Irish citizenship categories.

These figures include housing provided by Louth County Council and approved housing bodies.

The Council has clarified that nationality does not determine priority for social housing, with waiting time and housing need among the key considerations.

My focus remains on transparency, accountability and having the correct information.

Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing our communities, and we need an open, honest and informed conversation about housing demand, population growth and how we plan for the future.

Having accurate and reliable data is fundamental to understanding the challenges, making informed decisions and ensuring our housing policies are fit for purpose.

People deserve clear answers, and I will continue asking the questions that need to be answered.

Read Page 13 of the Dundalk Leader ➡️ https://issuu.com/dundalk-leader/docs/14-10-2026

18/10/2026

🚗 ARDEE ROAD – DUNDALK’S FORGOTTEN ROAD?

At the October meeting of Dundalk Municipal District, I raised serious concerns about the increasing traffic congestion and road safety issues along the Ardee Road.

What was once a five-minute journey into Dundalk can now take up to 25 minutes during the morning rush, with traffic regularly backing up onto the Knockbridge Road.

But it’s not just about traffic delays. Pedestrian safety is a major concern.

I have called on Louth County Council to:

✅ Examine the introduction of a pedestrian crossing at Ardee Terrace.

✅ Review the dangerous Y-junction on the Ardee Road and consider replacing it with a safer T-junction.

✅ Address the increasing traffic congestion along this busy route.

The Council has confirmed that surveys have been carried out and that the safety concerns will be followed up.

The Ardee Road cannot continue to be overlooked. We need practical solutions that improve traffic flow and, most importantly, make the road safer for everyone.

I’ll continue to pursue these issues with Louth County Council.

💬 Do you use the Ardee Road regularly? I’d be interested to hear your experiences.

Read Page 15 of the Dundalk Leader ➡️ https://issuu.com/dundalk-leader/docs/14-10-2026

18/10/2026

What a super night in the Fairways last night celebrating all things great about business in Louth.
To the Chamber team in Dundalk. Hats off to you.
To Rocsalt in Blackrock winning the overall prize and to our own Geraldine’s man Frank Lynch for winning a lifetime achievement award.
Well done to all involved.
Dundalk Chamber
Shane Mc Guinness
Geraldines GFC

14/10/2026

“Forgotten road” now one of Dundalk’s busiest says cllr

Traffic on Dundalk’s Ardee Road has increased to the point where morning journeys into the town can take five times longer than they did a few years ago, a Dundalk councillor has said.

Fianna Fail councillor Shane McGuinness told the October meeting of Dundalk Municipal District that queues of traffic were now regularly backing up on to the Knockbridge Road and the route had now become one of the busiest approaches to the town, likening it to the busy stretch at Hill Street Bridge on the Dublin Road.

“I think it's the forgotten road of Dundalk,” said Cllr McGuinness. He told the meeting that a journey that used to take five minutes was now taking roughly 25 minutes in the morning with traffic at times backed up for “nearly a mile," and suggested some drivers may be using the route to avoid the busy Hill Street Bridge.

However, a council official said they did not believe that to be the main cause, pointing to a general increase in traffic volumes in the town. “There is an increase in the volume of traffic around the town on every leg going into town and I don’t think it is a case that people are avoiding Hill Street,” the official said.

Cllr McGuinness also raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians at Ardee Terrace saying people trying to cross the road, including cyclists and those with prams, were relying on drivers to stop and let them cross the road. “They have actually no way to cross the road, they’re actually stopping traffic in the mornings to get across the road,” he said.

He asked the council to consider putting a zebra crossing or another type of pedestrian crossing at the location.

He also drew attention to the “Y” junction on the Ardee Road near a bad bend saying he believed a “T” junction was instead needed. “It’s a seriously dangerous road,” said Cllr McGuinness.

Responding in relation to Ardee Terrace, the official said the council was aware of the issue and there had already been a survey done at that location to determine if low-cost safety measures could be carried out and the issue would be followed-up.

Regarding the junction, the official told the meeting there had been an on-site meeting at the location. “It’s more than a straightforward operation there,” the official said, adding that a speed survey had been carried out and is to be reviewed as part of the wider speed limit review.

14/10/2026

I’m Out and standing in solidarity with the nurses and staff at St John of Gods and the HSE where they deserve a new deal and support from our government.
These are the people getting up every day and working. They deserve better.
H&B Community Forum
Shane Mc Guinness
LMFM
HSE Ireland

07/10/2026

Always delighted to support Louth Tidy Towns.
Shane Mc Guinness
Haggardstown Tidy Towns
Dundalk Tidy Towns

Thanks for your continued support Shane - very much appreciated!

07/10/2026

I may have raised eyebrows last month on asking for data on our housing allocation but having the data and having transparency is so important. I only received this document yesterday which has been around about 6 months I believe.
It has all the figures and this is vital data for politicians and the public to know.
Citizenship is in my view so important and we need to look at the rules around this.
And also looking at the new buzz word around of Habitual residency and how it works. Everything should be on the table. We still have a chance to get it right. It’s never too late..
Shane Mc Guinness

https://gript.ie/full-2025-social-housing-application-list-by-nationality-revealed/?updated=1&fbclid=IwZnRzaAUy_8lleHRuA2FlbQExAHBkb2YFZmRpZBZQ_YvY6am_b-8SEvZ7O4hXiXo-a8jGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHhHJLnqlvB7B5qJaZeUNYd64U55FRIavBy8HKR5DucfM2sW_9CI2Dz5_CCxU_aem_8SiArNRG4KbHmmoe0FH1yg

07/10/2026

It was a privilege to attend an important meeting in Mid Ulster last night, with a thoughtful and engaging discussion around a United Ireland, constitutional change and the conversations that will shape the future of this island.

Whatever our individual views, these are important discussions to have — openly, respectfully and with a willingness to listen to different perspectives.

It was also a pleasure to spend some time with former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and to be back in the heart of Tyrone, where I was born. That made the evening particularly special for me personally.

A very worthwhile evening of conversation, reflection and looking ahead to the future of our island

05/10/2026

Delighted to have completed the Level 8 Town Planning course at Maynooth University.

As a local councillor, planning is one of the areas that has a very real impact on our communities — from housing and development to infrastructure and how our towns and villages grow.

I believe it’s important to keep learning and building my knowledge so I can ask the right questions, better understand the planning process and represent people as effectively as possible.

Really pleased to have completed the course and to bring that additional knowledge into my work as a councillor.

03/10/2026

It was great to sit down and have a proper conversation with an old friend about all things political, and to get the opportunity to explain some of the issues I’ve been raising around housing, social housing allocations and the need for better, more detailed information.

As a local representative, I’m being asked these questions by people in the community, so it’s important that I continue to ask them and seek clear, accurate answers.

Thanks for the chat — plenty covered and well worth a listen. ⬇️https://youtu.be/zCcsghsWm0A?si=sHStR7Q0F8mqh-j1

The Irish Question Mini Podcast Series — No. 2Who is being alloca...