Green Party promises to cut speed limits to 30km in towns and bring in car-free days to woo voters in local elections

Lowering the voting age to 16, planting one million trees over the next five years and giving all towns with a population over 30,000 the choice whether they want to have a directly-elected mayor are some of the promises in its local election manifesto.

“Invest in making roads safer with lower speed limits, with a move to 30km/h zones in towns, to protect motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and reduce crashes,” the manifesto reads.

It also says it will “champion” annual car-free days in “specific areas, towns and villages” to allow local markets and festivals to take place and support communities who want “car-free neighbourhoods”.

The party said it will also bring in more dog waste bins, as well as “proper resourcing” of dog wardens.

Recycling centre hours will also be extended so they are open on Sundays.

“Excessive” tree felling will also be ended and hedgerows will be retained and conserved to “protect and restore threatened and diminished biodiversity”, under the Green Party’s plans.

Local council meetings will be livestreamed, with votes “recorded and easily available”.

The Greens also say they will publish information on how local property taxes, parking charges and development contributions are being spent.

The manifesto says its councillors votes on Local Property Tax will be informed by “the need to fund local public services”.

The party has previously proposed replacing local property taxes with a site value tax, which is based on the value of a site without any “improvements or properties”.

Green Party councillors last year in Dublin City Council previously put forward proposals which would have increased local property taxes in the area.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has previously said the party wants to double the number of its councillors at the next local election, taking place June 7.

The party also has proposed “new local assemblies” in its manifesto, where members of the public would be able to suggest policy ideas for local issues so the local council can try them out and keep them if they work.

For migration, the Greens want better staffing of Local Authority Integration Teams to “welcome new arrivals into our communities”.