Community Platform General Election 2024 Hub

COMMUNITY PLATFORM MANIFESTO FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION

The Community Platform has collectively developed our Manifesto for the General Election. The Manifesto focuses on proposals under the following four key areas, which we are asking all political parties and candidates to address:

The eradication of poverty:
- We are asking political parties and candidates to commit to the eradication of poverty by 2030. Further details of our Manifesto proposals are contained in our recent report, What Would it Take to Eliminate Consistent Poverty by 2030?.
The delivery of a universal Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care:
- We are calling on parties and candidates to commit to the delivery of a universal Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care. More details are contained in the Community Platform paper, Principles for delivering a high quality, inclusive and accessible Public Childcare Model.
- The Community Platform is also a member of the Together for Public alliance, and support its call for political parties and candidates to commit to a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).
The implementation of an effective model of collaborative governance:
- We call on parties and candidates to commit to the establishment of a Collaborative Governance Advisory Body, led by the Department of the Taoiseach, and with representatives from across civil society, to oversee the implementation of consistent and effective models of collaborative governance across Government Departments. Details of the proposals are outlined in Towards A Progressive Model of Collaborative Governance: A Community Platform Discussion Paper.
The creation of inclusive, resilient, sustainable and empowered communities:
- We call on parties and candidates to commit to build on the pilot Community Development Programme and invest in and expedite the establishment of a network of autonomous community development projects in and with marginalised communities.
- In addition, we call on political parties and candidates to recognise the vital role community and voluntary organisations play in society, and the essential work these organisations carry out at the local and national level. We further call on candidates and parties to recognise the barriers and challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and to commit to significantly increase investment in and resourcing of these organisations, including through the development and implementation of more sustainable multi-year funding models to allow organisations to effectively plan long term.

These priorities are rooted in the values of dignity, social and economic justice, equality, solidarity, social and economic inclusion, sustainability, participation, and transparency which we call on all election candidates and political parties to uphold.

We also call on all candidates and parties to conduct their campaigns in a way that promotes respect for all and does not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, ‘race’ (including skin colour, nationality, ethnicity), religion, membership of the Traveller Community, or socio-economic status.

READ THE COMMUNITY PLATFORM MANIFESTO FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION HERE

COMMUNITY PLATFORM MEMBERS

The Community Platform is an alliance of 31 national networks and organisations in the community and voluntary sector working to address poverty, social exclusion and inequality. This page will be updated with manifestos, events and information from members in the run up to General Election 2024.

MANIFESTOS

European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland

The EAPN Ireland General Election Manifesto 2024 sets its priorities for the next Government. The Manifesto outlines a range of commitments the network is calling on all candidates and political parties to adopt, and to deliver should they form the next Government. EAPN Ireland is calling on the next Government to commit to eradicating, not just alleviating, poverty, and for priority to be given to addressing the systemic and structural root causes of poverty, social exclusion and inequality.

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU)

The INOU General Election Manifesto covers a range of key issues for the organisation under seven headings: ensuring adequate levels of income; improving welfare to work supports; providing quality training and education; enhancing labour market programmes; accessible and decent jobs; supportive employment services; and inclusive technological change. In the forthcoming General Election, the INOU is calling on all political parties and people standing for election to support particular measures and address the barriers facing people who are unemployed.

National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)

NALA has published its Manifesto, Our General Election Asks for Adult Literacy. It contains seven asks for political parties in this general election. These asks cover plain language, literacy programmes and literacy policy.

National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWC)

The National Women’s Council General Election Manifesto presents a feminist vision for an Ireland that advances women’s equality and protects women’s rights. NWC are calling on all general election candidates to demonstrate their commitment to women and equality by supporting ten key manifesto asks, including on childcare, violence against women, and universal healthcare (including reproductive rights) – issues that top the agenda for many women.

The NWC Feminist Communities for Climate Justice Network have created a set of election asks with feminist climate justice at their core – climate action that takes note of existing inequalities and leaves no community behind.

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre

Pave Point has published its Manifesto Considerations: Election 2024/2025, calling on election candidates to make Traveller and Roma human rights and equality a Government priority, and to ensure an Ireland free from racism and discrimination, where all Travellers and Roma can fully realise their potential and participate as fully respected members of minority ethnic groups.

Simon Communities of Ireland

The Simon Communities of Ireland Manifesto, Working to End Homelessness by 2030, outlines proposals for the next Government under three pillars: 1. Supporting Exits Out of Homelessness; 2. Actions to Prevent Homelessness; 3. Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness. It calls on the next Government to prioritise the ambition of the current 2030 target and to make considerable progress on the housing and homelessness crisis.

Cairde, Immigrant Council of Ireland and Irish Refugee Council

Community Platform members Cairde, Immigrant Council of Ireland and Irish Refugee Council are members of a coalition of 22 organisations which has published Civil Society Manifesto Recommendations on International Protection, calling for protection of the rights and dignity of refugees and people seeking asylum.