Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo Rolling News

Here are the key promises from the local election manifestos of smaller parties

Here’s a quick guide to the pledges made by the Green Party, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Aontú.

WITH POLLING STATIONS set to open at 7am tomorrow, you may be doing your final bit of research on who to vote for in the local and European elections.

At this stage, you probably aren’t going to thumb through all of the local manifestos, so we’ve done some of the work for you.

We had a read through the manifestos of all of the smaller parties in the Dáil – the Greens, Labour, the Social Democrats, Aontú and People Before Profit- and plucked out the key promises from each.

Independent Ireland, the party formed by TD Michael Collins earlier this year, does not have a local election manifesto and so hasn’t been included in this list.

You can also have a look at the main pledges made in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin’s manifestos here. 

The length of the smaller parties’ manifestos all vary.

Aontú and People Before Profit have both gone for a succinct 23 pages and 20 pages respectively. And Aontú has killed two birds with one stone by combining its local and European manifestos into one document.

Labour has spelt out its vision over 33 pages, the Green Party’s’ stretches over 58 (although the text is much larger) and the Social Democrats has clocked in at a mammoth 71 pages (regular-sized text).

Here’s a breakdown of eight key promises being made by each:

Aontú

Aontú, the party established by TD Peadar Tóbín after he resigned from Sinn Féin in 2018 because he disagreed with the party’s stance on abortion, promises to continue to oppose abortion and euthanasia in its manifesto.

Much of its manifesto focuses on EU related issues, but on issues related to local government it sets out that the party will seek to:

  • Return councils to towns and cities with a population of over 20,000 people. 
  • Create regional assemblies with designated budgets – one for Dublin, the rest of Leinster, Munster and Connacht/Ulster. 
  • Rebalance local authority power to give councillors more power than unelected officials.
  • Increase the power and resources of SIPO to be able to properly investigate corruption in local authorities.
  • Reduce the time that a local authority home is left empty between tenants from eight months to two.
  • Accelerate the retrofitting of older council housing stock.
  • Ensure that the Traveller Accommodation Budgets are spent appropriately by each Local Authority.
  • Ensure at local authority level that businesses have a consultation right for all new road and traffic changes in towns.

The Green Party

The Green Party has pitched its manifesto as a “plan to unleash the power of every community in Ireland”.

Here are its main priorities and promises:

  • Restore town and borough councils.
  • Ensure greater transparency on how local property tax is spent.
  • Commit to restoring native habitats, native forests, bogs and wetlands and to designate areas for rewilding and develop pocket parks which are gardens and community gardens on small, vacant, under-used sites.
  • Increase the number and type of bins across the country, including underground waste bins while also working towards publicly provided waste collection services.
  • Prevent construction on floodplains through the planning system.
  • Plant 1 million trees over the next five years. 
  • Establish shared bike schemes in large towns and implement high quality cycle lanes.
  • Remove unnecesary street clutter and provide more free gym exercise equipment in parks, provide more benches and seating in communities and increase the number of public toilets.

The Labour Party

Labour’s local election manifesto states that the housing crisis is the most pressing issue facing Irish society. 

It lists a number of key areas Labour councillors will campaign for at council level. 

Among these are to campaign for: 

  • An audit of the state of local footpaths, ensuring that the design and upkeep of paths and roads to cater for cyclists and pedestrians is a priority.
  • A focus on vacant and derelict buildings by seeking additional funding for compulsory purchase orders.
  •  Improvements in public lighting, street furniture and street design.
  • New bye laws on dog fouling to strengthen fines.
  • Increased funding for roads, paths and cycle ways.
  • The hiring of Community Wardens to be a familiar face in every locality to keep an eye out for antisocial behaviour, be quick to respond to issues like illegal dumping, dog fouling, persistent noise or anti-social behaviour, with the power to issue fines. 
  • Local plans for areas at risk of flooding and improved availability of sandbags.
  • Local councils to have greater flexibility to modify the level of Local Property Tax.

Social Democrats

The Social Democrats outline in its manifesto how its “single biggest priority is to improve the delivery of key public services.”

It sets out its candidates key commitments as being: 

  • Getting local councils back building affordable homes to rent and buy.
  • Building ‘15-minute’ cities and towns, pursuing planning policies that prioritise proximity and accessibility to work and essential services.
  • Appointmenting architects at local authority level whose role it is improve the aesthetic appearance of the public realm.
  • Increasing the prevalence of basic public services and amenities like public toilets, drinking fountains, benches, playgrounds, and community gardens.
  • Putting disabled people at the heart of all decisions that affect them.
  • Supporting increased investment in cycling and public transport. 
  • Promoting biodiversity, recycling, and strong anti-dumping measures.
  • Campaigning in favour of directly elected mayors for Cork, Dublin, Galway, Waterford, and for all local authorities who want them.

People Before Profit

“Evict Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Put Campaigners on our councils,” is written in large, colourful text on the front of People Before Profit’s (PBP) local manifesto which outlines what it sees as the need for radical change. 

It says if PBP councillors are elected, they will pledge to: 

  • Vote against the election of Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil Mayors.
  • Work to clear the housing lists and build social housing. 
  • Demand greater investment in housing, retrofitting and maintenance.
  • Demand an end to charges for waste collection and bring waste collection back into public ownership.
  • Vote against cuts to services and impose a tourist tax to help fund better services. 
  • Vote against increased taxes and charges for the public and abolish the Property Tax.
  • Stand up to racism and the scapegoating of refugees.
  • Work to have no council homes to be left vacant for more than a month.
  • Campaign to make local councils apartheid free zones by breaking any diplomatic ties with Israel.

Who’s running for the council in your area? Here’s how to find out

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
27 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavan Hogan
    Favourite Gavan Hogan
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:39 PM

    I won’t be voting for any of those parties.

    143
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 9QRixo8H
    Favourite 9QRixo8H
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:47 PM

    You’ll be glad to know that FG are topping the opinion polls.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavan Hogan
    Favourite Gavan Hogan
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:51 PM

    @9QRixo8H: The real poll will take place tomorrow.

    100
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P. J.
    Favourite P. J.
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 7:37 PM

    @Gavan Hogan:
    Unfortunately Gavan, he might be right.
    Although I personally think SF will shade it nationally

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jen McC
    Favourite Jen McC
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 9:03 PM

    @Gavan Hogan: cool, I will.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Stevenson
    Favourite Sean Stevenson
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 5:42 PM

    Not one mention of crime. Antisocial behaviour is absolutely rampant in inner city Dublin. Drug dealing is quite literally on every street corner in Dublin 1. Kids on scramblers rallying up and down through traffic on bikes they’ve either robbed or bought with the proceeds of crime. Ffs the only party I see mention antisocial behaviour is those absolute loons in the national party. Why do I have to look to the far right ethnonationalists before I find a party that takes crime seriously? Can anybody recommend local councillors in the inner city that focus on crime reduction? Advocates for more prisons or reopening old ones? The soft touch approach has clearly failed for all to see.

    139
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Stevenson
    Favourite Sean Stevenson
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 5:48 PM

    Oh wait, more fool me, just saw the paragraph where labour wants “wardens” handing out fines for antisocial beheviour. I’m sure that’ll stop it! LOL. How many fines were paid to councils for things like dog poop in the past 4 years? A quick Google search shows 1 (yes, one in 4 years). Why do they think fining people for this will help?

    94
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn OKane
    Favourite Éamonn OKane
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:10 PM

    @Sean Stevenson: but, how many were faced to clean up.before been fined?

    10
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Favourite Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 9:52 PM

    @Sean Stevenson: very well said and so true.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Boyne Shark
    Favourite Boyne Shark
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:26 PM

    We all know how much a promise from a politician is worth. Why not check the promises they made previously and how they’ve lived up to them. Or not.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 5:58 PM

    More false promises that mean nothing to the people of Ireland

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute damien leen
    Favourite damien leen
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 5:59 PM

    Blowing up a school now Israel…what happened…miss the orphanage? Ah well not to worry, plenty time for that!

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute damien leen
    Favourite damien leen
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 7:03 PM

    @Ulysses 31: Ah bless…have I got to the racist thicko…good.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kush OMeara
    Favourite Kush OMeara
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 9:36 PM

    @damien leen: Maybe if Hamas stops building tunnels and hiding flammable ammo under schools and kids bedrooms. It’s either Israel blowing it up or Hamas firing those rockets at Israel ( good thing there’s the Iron dome) – I know what I would do.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Hunt
    Favourite Brian Hunt
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:28 PM

    Politics seem to attract poor specimens of society, ie, accomplished sleight-of-hand artists and polished liars. It’s best to vote them out regularly and not leave them too long in government!

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 9QRixo8H
    Favourite 9QRixo8H
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 5:45 PM

    FF was the largest party since 2019 local election, will they continue to be the largest after tomorrow or will people vote change? #VoteTomorrow.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Hayes
    Favourite Jack Hayes
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 6:00 PM

    Apathy and cynicism will be the ruin of us all.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric
    Favourite Eric
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 7:30 PM

    None of them mention ensuring economic growth or how much extra they will tax and misspend??

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jerry LeFrog
    Favourite Jerry LeFrog
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 8:31 PM

    @Eric: economic growth is not something county councils are exceptionally renowned for. They should have more powers to attract investment though.
    As for taxing… County councils only collect commercial rates I think? Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The next small thing
    Favourite The next small thing
    Report
    Jun 6th 2024, 7:54 PM

    It’s great that they can get rid or lower taxes and yet increase services

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Moore
    Favourite John Moore
    Report
    Jun 7th 2024, 12:21 AM

    Could probably have bundled most of the looney parties here into one doc to save time. That document could then more easily be put through a shredder and recycled into toilet paper or perhaps bedding for someone who maybe keeps rodents as a pet.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jun 7th 2024, 12:07 PM

    Lol! so a whole pile of nothing? not a road, bridge, train, etc. ‘empower local council’… to be against any national plans? It’s 2 steps back, if we’ve learned anything it’s that we cant solve the problems facing us, putting more people infront of these problems will make it even harder.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds