Greens pledge to build better communities

The Minister John Gormley today launched 'Building Better Communities,' the Green Party's manifesto for the local elections and the party's campaign website: http://vote.greenparty.ie.

Minister Gormley was accompanied by councillors Tom Kivlehan (Ballybrack), Gene Feighrey (Dún Laoghaire) and David Healy (Howth-Malahide), who helped to draft the manifesto. The Green Party leader said: "All eight members of the Green parliamentary party in Oireachtas Éireann as started their political career as local councillors. We have all seen how much can be achieved on local authorities and we have cut our teeth in county and city council chambers. On June 5th, people in nearly 100 constituencies, from Skibbereen to Inishowen, from Tuam to Tramore, will have the opportunity to vote green. We have an inspiring group of candidates running this year – young and old, seasoned and first-timers – which is as diverse and inclusive as the population of modern Ireland.

"The work of local councillors is of vital importance to democracy in Ireland. It is my intention that the White Paper on Local Government Reform will enhance the roll of local democracy, and help to engage citizens in the decision making process. I will be publishing the White Paper after the Commission on Taxation reports and sets out the options for the funding of local government, which will be a major challenge as we go forward.

"Our manifesto sets out a bold vision for stronger local economies and better planned, closer and greener communities," he said.

Among the steps that Green councillors will take are:
Providing low cost incubator spaces for new businesses; establishing cost savings forums to provide information on energy efficiency and waste management; promoting local authority forums to create green jobs; making tele-working sites available in council buildings; promoting eco-tourism; increasing green spaces, tree cover and urban forests; requiring cost-benefit analysis on new transport projects; restricting development on flood plains, and near aquifers, SPAs and SACs; introducing safe routes to school and better cycling facilities; providing low-cost community facilities for young people; making better provision for primary healthcare centres; improving waste management plans; making public buildings more energy efficient; and providing local authority land for allotments and community gardens.

For the first time the full version of the Party's manifesto is only published online, with links to relevant information sources and over 250 action points that Green councillors will pursue over the next five year. An abridged printed edition of the document contains contextual material and 20 examples of where green councillors have already implemented policies in their communities.

Factsheet: Green Party local election candidates

• Female candidates as a percentage of total green candidates: 29%
• Percentage of female county councillors elected in 2004: 16%
• First time candidates: 45%
• Average age of green candidate: 41.4
• Youngest candidate: 19
• Oldest candidate: 62
• Number of immigrant candidates: 8
• Immigrant candidates as a percentage of total green candidates: 8%
• Non Irish citizens as a percentage of the general population: 8.5% (2006, excluding UK citizens)
• Nationalities of all green candidates: Irish, Nigerian, Lithuanian, Zimbabwean, British, Russian, American

Online information
Number of candidates with:
Facebook accounts: 32
Twitter accounts: 12
Websites or Blogs: More than 20

Green party:
YouTube video views: 44,500
Twitter followers: 474