See Her Elected

The overall aim of the SHE Project is to empower women in rural constituencies to engage in electoral politics.

Despite increases in the numbers of female TDs and Councillors following recent elections, 78% of TDs and 76% of councillors are still male. What is noteworthy is that the increases gained have been mainly in urban constituencies. The 2019 Local Elections saw women gain 48% of the seats on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. In contrast, women’s representation on Longford County Council reduced to 5%, Mayo County Council to 6% and Donegal County Council to 11%. Such disparity in women’s representation within urban and rural constituencies was a key factor in the establishment of the SHE Project.

The SHE Project is a collaboration between the Women’s Manifesto Project (a Longford Women’s Link programme) and 50:50 North West, organisations with strong links at grassroots level. A unique project, it is ‘ploughing new furrows’ in developing an innovative rural strategy to ensure women from our rural constituencies gain their rightful place on our councils and in Dáil Eireann.

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The Women’s Manifesto Project, an innovative programme from Longford Women’s Link, is based on a model of positive engagement developed in Longford between Longford Women’s Manifesto Group and local decision-makers. The project aims to reconnect women with the democratic process in their own communities and counties.

50:50 North West comprises individuals and groups from Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim. 50:50 North West aims to encourage debate, conversation and discussion about the need for more women in Irish Politics – especially in rural constituencies.

949

Councillors in Ireland

are Women

Gender quotas don’t apply at local elections.