The Green Party is working in Government to make Ireland a better place for everybody. Here are just some of the things we have achieved since June 2007:
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Helping people to save money by driving cleaner, greener cars

One of the Party’s earliest achievements in government was to link motor taxes and vehicle registration tax to the level of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a car’s engine. This long-held green policy has produced major changes in the type of cars that people drive. It is now much cheaper to buy and operate an environmentally friendly vehicle. Sales of gas-guzzlers have dived, while hundreds more green hybrid and electric vehicles appear on the roads every month.

Building warmer homes with lower energy bills

Developing the pioneering work of Green councillors in Fingal and Dun Laoghaire, the Government introduced rules for builders that would make new homes 40% more energy-efficient. Better design, construction and insulation standards, and a requirement to use a certain amount of energy from renewable sources, results in families in new homes paying energy bills that are, in many cases, half of what those in older un-insulated houses will pay. Homes built to the new standards have a much lower carbon footprint – and better resale value – thanks to these new regulations.

Halting bad planning, creating better communities

Bad planning decisions affect people’s quality of life for generations. Ireland is littered with examples of huge housing estates built on the edges of villages without any consideration given to the schools, shops, transport options or sewage works that are vital to sustain a community. Greedy property owners, powerful developers and corrupt councillors have all played their part. Since becoming a minister, John Gormley has halted reckless planning decisions made by councillors in Monaghan, Mayo, and Waterford and changed the rules so that councillors will no longer be able to ignore either professional planning advice or national policy. He has also allocated €89m in 2008 to build better water and sewage treatment plants and correct the mistakes of the past. These measures will ensure that our drinking water is as safe as it can possibly be.

Investing in jobs, protecting Ireland’s future

Over €20m has been secured for green energy research in Irish colleges, which will create thousands of high quality jobs and position Ireland as a leader in the rapidly developing ‘green tech’ area. Some €26m has been allocated for research into wave power

New money-saving, smart electricity meters will boost green power

In Italy in 2000, the state power company began installing a new type of meter that, on a regular basis, sent information about the amount of electricity being used in people’s homes back to the grid. This €2bn project repaid investment costs within five years and eliminated thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, as a result of better management of the power supply. It also allowed hundreds more wind turbines and green energy plants to be connected to the grid. The ESB has begun to roll out these ‘smart meters’ across Ireland, helping customers to reduce their bills and allowing more renewable energy to be generated in Ireland. Special ‘new meters’ will also allow homes, businesses and farms that generate their own electricity to sell any surplus power back to the grid.

Battery recycling made simple

Batteries are an essential part of modern life and when they’re dead it’s tempting to put them in the bin along with other waste. But most batteries also contain dangerous poisons and toxins and can cause great environmental damage if they end up in landfill. Since September you can return used batteries to any shop that sells them. A safe and simple way to dispose of deadly waste!

Developing clean, renewable sources of energy

Extra financial supports and lighter legal requirements were extended to companies building renewable energy facilities and bio-energy plants. The supports to encourage offshore wind energy alone has almost treble, while €2m has been made available to help farmers plant more bioenergy crops.

A ban on bed-sits: quality of rented accommodation improved

Bedsits will be phased out, heating and safety systems in flats improved, and gardens and shared areas better maintained under new laws to improve the quality of rental accommodation. Unscrupulous landlords failing to meet the new standards will be fined.

Cycle to work scheme

In January 2009 a new cycle to work scheme came into force. It covers bicycles and accessories up to a maximum cost of €1,000 and aims to promote cycling as a mean keeps of keeping fit, and as a fast, cheap environmentally friendly means of getting to work. Click here for more info.
www.bikescheme.ie

Extra money to heat and insulate low-income homes

Up to 60,000 households will benefit from €15m worth of structural work and increased fuel allowances to make warmer homes for those that need it most.

Removing tax breaks for high-earners

The 2009 Finance Bill eliminated a ‘Cinderella clause’ which allowed some of the country’s richest people to avoid paying tax by leaving the country before midnight and not having that day counted as ‘tax resident’.