Only the Greens are serious about a thriving rural Ireland

Ahead of the general election vote on Friday, Clare Green Party candidate, and Deputy Leader, Senator Róisín Garvey along with Offaly candidate Minister Pippa Hackett unveiled the Green Party’s policy plan for rural Ireland in Inagh, Co Clare on Wednesday.

“When it comes down to it, it’s really clear that only the Green Party have their eyes on the challenges coming down the tracks, and are the only ones taking meaningful action today to help people meet those challenges”, said Senator Garvey.

“From day one in 2020 we got to work, and we’ve broken the trend of smaller parties in Government getting overwhelmed by their larger partners. We got it done - a massive investment in rural Ireland:

• We are introducing a new rural bus route at a rate of one per week, connecting communities and reducing isolation.

• We’ve rolled out the National Broadband Plan ahead of time and under budget, bridging the digital divide.

• We’ve boosted farm income through new supports for sustainable agriculture, ensuring farming is viable and environmentally friendly.

• We are combating energy poverty through a world-leading retrofit programme and expanding rooftop solar initiatives to lower household energy bills, and expand rooftop solar on schools.

• We’ve tackled the scourge of vacant buildings to breathe new life into towns and villages.

“Here in Clare, people tell me they know that we’ve worked hard and they aren’t falling for the false promises of the other parties and independents. I’m in with a strong chance here and I’m asking everyone in Clare to vote me number 1 on Friday.

Joining Senator Garvey, Minister Pippa Hackett echoed her comments:

“It took the Greens going into Government for words to turn into action when it comes to making rural Ireland a vibrant place to live, to raise a family and to run a business. We’ve invested massively in rural infrastructure - home energy, water, public transport, broadband and we’ve invested hugely in people too - low cost public transport, cheaper childcare, and helping farming families’ margins by incentivising the transition away from expensive fossil fuel-dependent inputs.

“We have made serious strides towards bringing about vibrant rural towns and villages over the past four and a half years – both socially and economically – and we are the only party setting out a clear, positive vision for what a thriving rural Ireland will look like in five to ten years’ time.”

Senator Garvey concluded:

“Others in rural Ireland might want to make hay out of bashing the Greens and at the same time claim Green Party successes as their own - whether it’s Local Link bus routes, solar panels on schools, homes and farm sheds, or unprecedented levels of grant funding to restore vacant and derelict properties. But no other party can put forward the same positive vision that seeks to work with nature, that mitigates the worst impacts of flooding and wider climate breakdown, and that supports farming families where they need it most.”

“The Greens have always been the party of big ideas with practical solutions. We are asking people all over rural Ireland to vote for a sustainable future for them and their families - and we say that vote is a number 1 vote for the Green Party.”