Mentoring scheme to encourage under-30s to seek Dáil seats

Thirty young elected representatives and aspiring politicians will take part in a new mentoring programme aimed at encouraging more under-30s to strive for Dáil seats.

Future Voices, a registered charity working with young people from marginalised backgrounds, on Thursday launched its Youth:Elect scheme which aims to equip people in their 20s with the skills to stand in the 2016 general election and future political contests.

Founder Mairead Healy said the programme was inspired by her organisation’s experience that young people were often not interested in politics because they felt “disenfranchised” from the political system.

“In our experience this is because of a lack of diversity among our current political representatives,” she said.

“Young people are not engaging politically because they feel that there is very little for them to identify with and relate to.

“They should not have to wait their turn until they are in their 40s.”

Ms Healy said Future Voices had worked with Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party, Renua and the Greens ahead of the programme launch.

Encouraged and included

She stressed that while the parties had nominated candidates to participate in the scheme, some of whom are already councillors, young people who wanted to run as Independents would also be encouraged and included.

Participants had to demonstrate a commitment to social justice and have been involved “at grassroots level” with the communities they wished to represent.

Ms Healy said they would receive professional training in campaigning skills and social media techniques.

She said Erin Fornoff, a Dublin-based former field organiser for US president Barack Obama's 2008 campaign across two states, would be involved.

“If we can empower those from marginalised backgrounds to stand for election to give a voice to their communities, we have a real chance of ensuring a more diverse and representative political system in Ireland,” she said.