She will now be one of eleven members of the Seanad's Labour panel.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sean McGowan brought forward a motion to today's Leitrim County Council meeting.

Local hospitals have been seeing a massive spike in people attending with flu and other respiratory conditions over the winter period.

The data provided a breakdown of the number of patients admitted to hospitals and subdivided by their respective Community Health Organisation.

Medical staff are urging those with symptoms to stay at home, with hand washing one key factor in stopping the spread.

Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation also reveal 663 people were on trolleys in the hospital last month.

There are 16 declared candidates so far – four in Leitrim and 12 in Sligo.

There are three times as many candidates in Sligo than Leitrim, with 12 in Sligo and four in Leitrim.