Record-Breaking 83% of Young People expected to Vote in the General Election

New research by Thinkhouse youth communications agency found that a record-breaking 83% of young people are expected to vote in the General Election on Friday. The Union of Students in Ireland has released new research by Smartvote which shows that 76% of 92,000 surveyed Smartvote users think low hour contracts should be abolished; and 70% of Smartvote (64,400 people) users also think NAMA should be mandated to sell off a proportion of its properties as purpose-built student accommodation.

“The independent research by Thinkhouse really outline how enthusiastic students are to engage in politics and have their voice heard in the General Election,” Kevin Donoghue, Union of Students in Ireland President, said, “The major priorities of Smartvote users include the educational welfare of students – 76% of users think low hour contracts, where employees must be available to work but are only guaranteed a minimum number of hours per week, should be outlawed. 53% of users also think that JobBridge scheme should be abolished.”

Since the 15^th February the Union of Students in Ireland has been travelling around colleges on the #MakeASmartVote road show, encouraging students to vote and telling them what the main parties are promising students and young people in their manifestos, and urging them to vote for a party that prioritises issues in the USI manifesto.

Full Survey Results

• 82.5% of smartvote users think the government should put limitations on how much landlords can increase rent – 15.5% somewhat agree; 19.6% agree; and 47.4% strongly agree.
• 70% of Smartvote users think NAMA should be mandated to sell off a proportion of its properties as purpose-built student accommodation – 25.7% somewhat agree; 21.6% agree; and 22.9% strongly agree.
• 74.6% of Smartvote users think that too many schools are under religious patronage (9.5% somewhat agree, 11.3% agree, and 53.8% strongly agree).
• 78.9% of Smartvote users think that wind farms should be built to reduce fossil fuels (17.9% somewhat agree, 20.1% agree, and 40.9% strongly agree).
• 61.1% of Smartvote users think the Government should promote carbon-neutral construction projects even if this means higher property costs.