The Green Party has launched its campaign for the local elections, in which it is fielding 82 candidates here.

At its launch, the party called for the planting of one million native trees over the next five years.

The party says the planting initiative would help protect nature, restore habitats and give people the right to green space locally.

A commitment to retrofit Ireland's social housing and an increase in funding for cycling infrastructure are also among their priorities.

They want funding for cycling to be expanded from the current 1% of the transport budget to 10%.

The party's director of elections Roderic O'Gorman said a total of 108 candidates will run for the Green Party both north and south in this month's local elections.