Phelan was elected to the Agricultural Penl in the Seanad in 2002. He was first elected to the Dáil in 2011. He is the current Minister of State at the Department of Housing with special responsibility for local government and electoral reform. He entered local politics in 1999. He is a qualified barrister and lives in South Kilkenny.

I have the drive, the passion, the skills, the connections and the track record to be a strong voice for the people of this region in Dáil Éireann. I’ve helped secure the new A&E at St Luke’s and want to get the extension and MRI over the line.

There are two game-changers for this constituency– the Technological University of the South East and broadband. If more people can work from home, it will have a major impact on time spent with family as well as major environmental pluses.

I want to see more public as well as private housing delivered across Kilkenny. We need more tourism and recreation investment, as well as the completion of the new Greenway.