A better health service, more gardaí, cheap concert tickets. First-time voters tell Rosita Bolandwhat will make them vote - or not
'If you have a say in something, you feel part of it'
Kate Ferguson (19), from Rathmines in Dublin, is an English and psychology student at Trinity College Dublin
Yes, I'll be voting. I think if you have a say in something, you feel part of it. If you're not prepared to take an interest, then you can't complain about what happens afterwards. I'm still deciding who to vote for. There's a website I've been looking at, www.mycandidate.ie, and I'll have a browse through that, but with exams next week, I won't be the best informed voter.
We had a debate a few weeks ago in Trinity at the Hist, with Bryan Dobson in the chair and representatives from all the parties, with the motion "That this Government should be re-elected".
It was entertaining, but I don't feel I got much out of it, policy-wise. Maybe they thought if they talked more vigorously about policies we would have been bored. We were very aware we were an elitist audience and there were questions asked about, "what are you doing to reach out to other people our age, and to have this kind of discussion with them?" They said they were aware they were talking to a privileged few, but as to doing something about reaching out to other people our age not so privileged, they didn't have an on-the-spot answer.
Like everyone else, for me, health is one of the most important things for the next government. And integrity in politicians. For a young person, if you hear about these scandals all the time, you don't want to vote them in. They're not magic people, but they're doing a job and that job requires them to act with integrity.
'Next time around I might
vote. I'll be a lot older and
wiser by then'
Máire Ní Ghráinne (19), from Furbo, Co Galway, is a student at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick
I'm not voting. I've never been interested in Irish politics and I think I'm better off leaving it to people who know about it, because I don't want to be flippant about it. I'm not registered, and the election is on a Thursday, so I wouldn't have been able to vote anyway. I didn't know you could have a postal vote, is that true? I don't think voting is relevant to me. I get so confused about all the parties - why should I vote for one over the other? I suppose I'm not motivated to vote, and I'll leave it to the people who have done their research.
The election has been mentioned about twice between me and my good friends. I suppose the health system is what I do think about, though, and I hope it improves in the next government. You hear so many terrible stories.
Next time around, I might vote. I'll be a lot older and wiser by then, and I'll have a job and will be a lot more passionate about it all.
'I want to get my point across, and to see if my vote makes a difference'
Robbie Dunne (18), from Rowlagh,
west Dublin, is a Leaving Cert student at Collinstown Park Community College
I plan to vote. I want to get my point across, and to see if my vote
makes a difference. I always thought I would use my vote. We have a
teacher here who has always said to us, if you have a vote, use it. I'm still
deciding about who I'll vote for, but I have an idea.
There's definitely a buzz around at election time, you'd notice it. I've been following things by reading papers and watching telly - I watched Prime Time this week. I would like to see a reduction in taxes, especially motor tax. But also PAYE and PRSI taxes. That affects me: I have a part-time job as a barman. And we badly need to make changes in the health service. We're not up to European standards at all.
A few of my friends are talking about the election. Some who can vote, will vote, but most won't bother, I think.
'It's a five-hour round trip,
but if you want to vote, you have to be a little bit pro-active'
Cáit O'Sullivan (19), from Glenflesk, Co Kerry, is a student at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick
I'm voting. The thing that really determined me to vote was that the Government are holding the election on a Thursday, and that made me all the more motivated.
I have an exam that morning, and then I'm going to get a bus home, probably at 2.30pm and I'll study on the bus. I'll vote and get right back on the last bus, which is at 6pm, and study again on the
way back. I have another exam the next morning. It's a five-hour round trip, but if you want to vote, you have to be a little bit pro-active.
I had no idea you could have a postal vote if you are a student. Nobody told me.
I haven't decided who to vote for yet. I've missed all the canvassing at home, but I'm keeping a close eye on all the coverage. I guess the health service is the big thing, and I do talk about it with my friends.
We are all kind of confused as to whether we should look at it from a national level or a local level: vote for parties or for people you know?
But most of us are in an exam bubble right now and don't have a lot of time to think about it.
Other than health, road safety is a big thing. And more gardaí.
As a teaching student, I want to see a subsidy being given for resources you use in teaching practice and that you have to pay for yourself.
'I would always take into consideration how my parents voted'
Edward Daly (19), from Moate, Co Westmeath, is a science student at UCD
I am registered to vote at home, and I do know you can get a postal vote - but I found out about it too late. I can't go home to vote as I'll be in the middle of exams, although there are some people in my class who live in Wicklow and Dundalk and they're going home that night to vote.
I don't think any of the political parties made any effort to make students aware of the fact that they could have a postal vote. They don't want to. The student vote is such a random swing vote that no party would really like to associate themselves with such an unpredictable vote.
I know a lot of parents are telling their children to vote a certain way. Myself, I would always take into consideration how my parents voted. I'd have to decide if I'd follow them or pave my own path. I'd have voted Fine Gael.
It's probably different in Dublin. I think it's because I'm from a rural area, and there's a lot of farming. People vote for those who will most benefit their families; it's all about priorities.
I know a lot of my family would have opinions on gardaí, especially as we live in such a rural area. What we have there is in stark contrast to what you see on the streets in Dublin.
'I wouldn't like to end up in hospital any time soon'
Mark Corcoran (18), from Ballinteer, is a Leaving Cert student at Wesley College, Dublin 16
I'll be voting. I'm not naturally interested in politics, but as the build-up to the election goes on, I'm getting more interested; watching Questions and Answers, programmes like that. I've enjoyed it. It's the politicians' crunch time and you can see how they deal with the pressure.
It has also been interesting to see the changes in the opinion polls. I'm voting because I feel I want to have a say.
I know who I want to vote for; I made up my mind a while ago. Fine Gael and Labour. I'd be in favour of a change of
government. The election isn't the number one topic among my friends, but we do talk about it a bit, and there is a wide range of opinions. Not many people
would be as interested as I am. I do think that the people who have a vote will use it, whether they know much about the parties or not.
With the next government, health is definitely an issue. I wouldn't like to end up in hospital any time soon.
I'm very interested in music - rock, pop - and the price of concert tickets
is a scandal. So is the prices of tickets to some sporting events. I'd like to see the next government do something
about that.