Since his election, Donal O’Cofaigh has consistently raised the issues which directly affect working people. He already has some notable achievements to his name including:
- Campaigned with Women’s Aid and secured a commitment from Department for Communities for four housing units for women and families who are victims of domestic abuse.
- Lobbied for and secured investment in an upgrade to the surface of the playpark in Kilmacormick in Enniskillen and to replace the surface of the MUGA in Riverside.
- Campaigned and secured a plan by the Department for Infrastructure for a rail link to Enniskillen, secured the long-delayed southern bypass as well as a series of strategic greenways including into Enniskillen town.
- Secured council intervention to deliver food and essentials to residents in need and to support outreach services to vulnerable residents during the Covid lockdown.
- Proposed and secured council backing for striking workers in all local disputes: for pay parity for NHS workers and for pay equality for Education Welfare Officers and for the retention of the Agricultural Wages Board.
- Sought adoption of a ethical procurement policy in FODC to push suppliers to council to provide apprenticeships, pay a Living Wage, recognise trade unions and not use zero-hours contracts and secured a ‘responsible procurement’ policy which promotes human and employment rights, apprenticeships and environmentally-sustainable economic activities.
- Repeatedly challenged the authorities over the continued and long-term overflow of raw sewerage into the River Erne due to Victorian-era combined sewer outlets in Enniskillen. Secured council agreement to bring forward legal advice on how the council can challenge NI Water and Stormont on its failure to upgrade local infrastructure.
- Pushed back on plans to close up to six play parks in the Enniskillen electoral area to the point that only one play park is now due for closure and he still voted against this on principle.
- Challenged suggestions that opening hours at council leisure centres might be cut-back – there are now no plans to do this.
- Voted for a no-cuts, zero rates increase budget but was defeated by the united votes of the establishment parties.
- Used his council position to raise and secure council opposition to the cruelty of illegal puppy farming, inadequate protections for public from gambling businesses and to highlight inaction on widespread reports of sexual abuse and cover-up.
- Challenged Stormont on their failure to build any public housing in Enniskillen in 2019 and only one house in 2020 – when the projected need for social housing is at least 211 for the next five years.
- Proposed and secured council adoption of a policy of no single-use plastics; bring forward plans to extend brown bin (food waste) collection across the district council area and supported demand for council to end use of insecticides which threaten bee populations.