Ciarán Cuffe was first involved in politics by marching to save the Viking settlement at Wood Quay over twenty years ago. Born in Shankill in 1963, he went to school at the Children’s House Montessori School in Stillorgan, Gonzaga College in Ranelagh, and University College Dublin, followed by a year at the University of Venice, Italy. He lectured in urban planning at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street prior to his election to the Dáil in May 2002. Ciarán was elected for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. He has two young children.
He joined the Green Party in 1982, and campaigned with Students Against the Destruction of Dublin in the 1980s. He has degrees in architecture and town planning from University College Dublin. He was twice elected to Dublin City Council in 1991 and 1999. He is proud of the Green Party’s achievements on Dublin City Council, such as cleaner Dublin bay through better sewage treatment, and an increase in cycle lanes and cycle parking. A keen cyclist he has ridden his bicycle coast-to coast-across the United States.
Ciarán Cuffe has developed a detailed knowledge and high profile for campaigning on transport, planning and environmental issues. He has made submissions to the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Development Plan on public transport, playgrounds and heritage issues. He was one of the first to call for a modern tram system for Dublin in 1991, and enjoyed taking a seat on one of the first Luas trams along the old Harcourt Street Line to Sandyford.
He is the Green Party’s Spokesperson on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. He has written many articles in the national press on environmental issues ranging from climate change to road safety. He is a member of Amnesty International, An Taisce and the Dublin Cycling Campaign.
In his first Dáil term he has proposed Private Members Bills in the Dáil on Recycling and Zero Waste; Proper Planning and on a National Transportation Authority that would favour Public Transport.
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