World first! Transformative app developed by Mayo businessman launched locally

A new online platform developed in County Mayo is aiming to transform how citizens communicate with their elected representatives.

Constituency.ie, founded by local businessman Jason Howley, is described as the world’s first constituency platform. The service allows residents to create cases with their local councillor or TD and to follow progress from acknowledgement to outcome.

A 10-day pre-launch trial now underway in Foxford.

The Foxford pre-launch, which began on January 2, is designed to gather feedback from local users ahead of a national rollout. Participation is limited to Foxford residents and is free of charge.

Constituency’s mission is to make communication between people and their representatives “simple, secure and visible.” Citizens can submit public or private cases and track real progress, while representatives can acknowledge cases and provide clear updates.

According to the company, the platform is “combines the clarity of government design with the ease of modern digital tools.”

READ MORE: Final Call: Nomination for Mayo County Council's Cathaoirleach Awards to close soon

Residents taking part in the trial can sign up on the website, choose whether their case is private or public, and submit their issue. All communication and updates remain within the platform to preserve a complete record. Private cases remain confidential between the citizen and the representative’s office. Public cases can raise community awareness and may include an online petition so supporters can demonstrate backing, with personal details not displayed publicly.

Mr Howley said the Foxford trial will help refine a simple and secure model that can scale nationally and beyond. “The goal is to provide a single trusted route for verified submissions, timely acknowledgements, and transparent updates,” he said.

Councillor Neil Cruise, who is participating in the trial, said having a single place for cases allows him to “acknowledge issues within eighteen to twenty-four hours and maintain a clear timeline of progress for residents.”

While the platform begins in Ireland, the company has global ambitions, adapting to local practices while maintaining strong privacy and security standards.