Politics

What is the Green Party doing for under-35s?

Party claims it has helped introduce cost rental housing, more rural bus routes, cheaper public transport and improved cycling infrastructure

Patrick Costello, one of the party’s youngest TDs at 43, says a lot of young people he meets have climate anxiety. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times

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Sarah Burns
Fri Sep 15 2023 - 15:56

The Green Party has traditionally been seen as a party aimed at younger people, in particular those concerned about climate change. However, the growth of Sinn Féin and emergence of the Social Democrats and its new leader Holly Cairns means it is now battling to hold on to those votes.

“We have to get them back,” admits Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who turned 60 over the summer, and has confirmed he will lead the party into the next general election.

“They [young people] will still vote for us but we have to make sure we address their concerns because our whole agenda is about their future.

“They’re going to face in their lives, by the time they get to my age, the full force and impact of climate change.”

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The most recent Irish Times/Ipsos poll in June showed that among the youngest voters, those aged 18-24, support for the Green Party was at 5 per cent; among the next group, those aged 25-34, support was lower, at 4 per cent.

However, among those aged 35-49, Green Party support was at seven per cent, in stark contrast to one per cent among 50-64 year olds and 2 per cent among those aged over 65.

When it comes to what the Green Party can offer under 35s, climate action is top of their agenda.

Dublin South Central TD Patrick Costello, who is one of the party’s youngest TDs at the age of 43, says: “A lot of young people I know and who would have come canvassing with me, and supported me talk a lot about their anxiety around climate change and their future.

“For them, it’s something not theoretical, it’s their future and it’s really scary for them and I think we’re the only ones who actually take it seriously.

“Going back to the local elections in 2019 and then 2020 general election, there was a real palpable sense that the environment mattered and we saw a surge in young voters at that time. It’s their future.”

Indeed, the party recorded their best ever election results in May 2019, securing 49 seats, an increase of 37 and won two seats at European level for Ciaran Cuffe and Grace O’Sullivan.

However, this green wave dipped somewhat when it came to the general election nine months later, though the party still had its most successful national election, winning 12 seats, 10 more than they had in 2016.

The party is keen to point out its track record on transport – namely securing more rural bus routes, reducing the cost of public transport as well as improvements in cycling infrastructure.

Costello says he would like to see the Green Party work towards free public transport, while adding existing services would have to be more efficient before this could happen.

He says the party has also been strong on housing, specifically the cost rental scheme, which provides affordable rented accommodation to people on middle incomes.

“We would be pushing for more social housing but cost rental is probably the one with the most green fingerprints on it.”

What are the parties doing for the under-35s?

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