Current TDs (five seats)

Pearse Doherty (SF), Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF), Charlie McConalogue (FF), Joe McHugh (Ind), Thomas Pringle (Ind)

TD Joe McHugh has been Fine Gael TD for Donegal since 2016, having served as TD in the Donegal North East constituency between 2007 and 2016.

He served as Minister of State in several ministries between 2014 and 2017 and as Chief Government Whip from 2017 to 2018 before becoming Minister for Education in October 2018.

In July 2022, MP McHugh resigned as party whip after voting against the government’s bad block bill.

He served the remainder of the government term as an independent TD and announced his decision not to contest the next general election.

Fine Gael has added two new faces to the ticket with the selection of newcomers Senator Nikki Bradley and John McNulty.

Agriculture, Food and the Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue will look to retain his seat for Fianna Fáil, while Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher and newcomer Claudia Kennedy will join him on the list.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who has been TD for Donegal since 2011, has also confirmed he will stand for election.

Sinn Féin MPs Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty have been selected by their party to stand in the next general election and retain their seats.

In the 2020 general election, Pearse Doherty received the highest number of first preference votes, followed by Padraig MacLochlainn. The two TDs were elected on the first count.

Who could make a profit here?

Newcomers from the 100% Redress Party hope to build on local election success and win a county seat by choosing Charles Ward as their candidate. The party gained popularity through its campaign on the problems of faulty concrete blocks affecting thousands of homeowners in Donegal.

Government parties in the county have been subject to intense criticism over their handling of the faulty concrete block crisis and, with Sinn Fein promising to meet the needs of those affected, their stance could win them further votes.

However, the return of former Fianna Fáil TD Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher to the ticket could serve Fianna Fáil well in the county. Mr Gallagher has a long political career having served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2016 to 2020 and Minister of State from 1987 to 1994 and 2002 to 2008.

What issues are in the spotlight?

The faulty concrete block scandal remains one of the most significant issues affecting Donegal.

Although rehabilitation of some homes across the county has begun, many homeowners still face a significant financial burden to repair their homes. At the same time, the combination of lack of housing supply, high vacancy rates and the defective concrete block crisis has contributed to the housing crisis.

Donegal Health Service continues to cause concern with residents at Letterkenny University Hospital regularly reporting overcrowding and long delays at the emergency department. Patients being forced to travel to other parts of the country to receive medical care is also a recurring problem.

Other issues include infrastructure problems, road quality and lack of public transportation. The county hopes the Ten T project will proceed quickly after the project receives Cabinet approval to move to the planning phase in July 2024.

Candidates

Pat ‘le Cope’ Gallagher, Fianna Fáil

Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil*

Claudia Kennedy, Fianna Fail

Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin*

Padraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Féin*

Thomas Pringle, independent*

Nikki Bradley, Fine Gael

John McNulty, Fine Gael

Other candidates may be added to the ballot” under the list of candidates

Nuala Carr, Green Party

Mary T Sweeney, Aontu

Eamon McGee, Irish Freedom Party

Charles Ward, The 100% Repair Party

Kim McMenamin, independent

Gerry McKeever, independent

Christmas Jordan, Sinn Féin

Frank O’Donnell, independent

Other candidates may be added to the ballot

*Indicates a sitting TD