Slashing childcare costs, exploring a ban on energy drinks, a free GP care expansion and much more have all been promised in the new programme for government.
The full document, published on Wednesday afternoon, was agreed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Regional Independents and the Healy-Rae brothers and will dictate state policy for the next five years, with an election called in late 2029.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will become Taoiseach on January 22 and will stay in power until November 16 2027. Simon Harris, or whoever is the Fine Gael leader at that stage, will then assume the position.
Galway was sadly given minimal attention in the new government programme, being mentioned a total of 3 times. A pledge was included to build four new elective hospitals (One each in Cork and Galway and two in Dublin).
Expanding trauma services at facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway was another point, while the city is also planned to receive one of six new surgical hubs.
The rest of the 161-page document is full of ambitious promises and plans to increase spending, but is also heavily caveated with the words “explore”, “examine” and “seek” appearing dozens of times.
You can check out a full breakdown below, courtesy of the Irish Mirror.
Childcare, children and education
The government has pledged to “progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child and explore options to cap costs for larger families”.
However, it does not say how soon it will bring fees down. Fianna Fáil said in its election manifesto that it would be done gradually, while Fine Gael said it would be done within one budget.
There are further pledges to “work with schools to host before and after-school care, and examine start-up supports for groups involved in afterschool activities”. Core funding will be maintained and increased, as will the fee cap.
Fine Gael had suggested a State-backed savings scheme for newborns. The government commits to “exploring this” but not to implementing it.
Ways to enforce age verification obligations on online service providers will also “be explored”. The government promises to continue reducing the Student Contribution Fee over its term but not to abolish it.
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Housing
The government aims to “ramp up construction capacity to build over 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030.” The Affordable Purchase Scheme will become a part of a new ‘Starter Home Programme’, which will be rolled out across the public, private, and approved housing body sectors. This aims to promote home ownership and secure long-term rental tenures for young people and fresh start applicants.
The Government has pledged to “support and deliver 15,000 starter homes a year, as well as “retain and revise” the Help to Buy scheme and extend it to 2030. It will also “work with banks to expand the First Home scheme to first-time buyers of second-hand homes” while also extending it to 2030.
It will “enact a new Compulsory Purchase Order Bill” to promote home construction in under-utilised land.
A rent price register will also be created, while the rent tax credits will “progressively increase”.
The Programme for Government also commits to work towards ending homelessness in 2030.
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Taxation
The Government has announced plans to bring in progressive changes to taxation “if the economy remains strong, including indexing credits and bands to prevent an increase in the real burden of income tax”.
It will also negotiate a new public sector pay deal.
Politicians will also consider adding a measure to “encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise.”
Health
On the health front, the Government is exploring “restrictions on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children”, and is also considering a ban on commercial sunbeds.
Plans are in place to add between 4,000 to 4,500 new and refurbished inpatient hospital beds nationwide, as well as at least 100 more ICU beds. The document commits to opening the long-awaited National Children’s Hospital and “building the new National Maternity Hospital”.
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The rollout of free GP care will be extended to “children up to at least 12 years… with further extension kept under review”. Free contraception access will be broadened, and there’s a pledge to implement free HRT (hormone replacement therapy) following previous delays.
There will be a “full digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems” as well as the launch of a National Patient App to “give patients easier access to their health information”.
There will also be actions to ensure the dermal fillers are only administered by trained healthcare professionals.
Transport
In transport, the previous commitment to a 2:1 spending ratio favouring public transport over roads has been scrapped. The number of average speed and static speed cameras will be ramped up, with plans to add new cameras to automatically spot mobile phone use and people not wearing seat belts.
A Transport Security Force under the National Transport Authority is set to be established, operating with similar powers to Airport Police and Customs Officers. Contactless fare payment will be rolled out across “all public transport”, with a pledge from the government to “keep fares low and affordable” will be implemented across the public, private, and approved housing body sectors.
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There will also be an “independent feasibility study” commission to examine “continuing MetroLink from the city to South West Dublin”. The much-delayed MetroLink has yet to open and is not scheduled to open until the mid-2030s.
Emissions
The programme for government commits to a “51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030 and net-zero emissions no later than 2050”.
Disability and mental health
On disability and mental health, the government has pledged to ensure children “who need early intervention and therapy input can access that support in a timely way” following criticism over lengthy waitlists. It plans to increase staffing, train more therapists and “prioritise children’s disability teams to deliver supports and services.
The government will also consider a “multiannual approach for disability services, which will be linked to productivity, staff levels and the delivery of services”. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) will be regulated.
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Social Protection
Core welfare payments are set to rise, but will be “targeted at people who are unable to work”. The State pension age will remain at 66, with a “progressive increase to weekly pension payments” planned.
The Government also plans to “examine improvements” to the Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Allowance. The income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance will be increased in each budget “with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government”.
A targeted Child Benefit Payment will be “explored”.
Gardaí and crime
Funding will be provided for “at least” 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda Staff over the next five years. The establishment of a second garda college will be considered, while capacity at Templemore will be expanded.
Legislation will be created to give Gardaí the authority to request passwords for electronic devices when executing a search warrant. The wearing of face coverings at protests will be banned and the government will ask an Oireachtas Committee to consider a ban on protests outside private homes.
A new prison will be built at Thornton Hall. There will also be an investment in high-powered road policing vehicles and upgrades to the Garda fleet.
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Migration
The Government has committed to “implement a firmer migration system that enhances border security, streamlines processing, ensures faster removals, and protects the integrity of our immigration framework, while supporting those in need”.
There will also be “clear timelines” to ensure applications are processed swiftly, and stronger border security measures will be implemented. The plan also states that applicants will be “provided with accommodation with restrictions on their movement to ensure the integrity of the process”.
The use of hotels for housing asylum seekers will be reduced by the government, and a new national Migration and Integration Strategy will be launched. The responsibility for international protection, accommodation, and integration will be transferred to the “Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration”.
Middle East
In the Middle East, the programme for government commits to progressing the Occupied Territories Bill.
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Defence
In terms of defence, there is a commitment to deliver enhanced radar capability with an “integrated Monitoring and Surveillance System across Maritime, Land and Air domains”.
There will be an upgrade to the military transport fleet, delivery of additional Air Corps capacity and “next-generation radio communications and signal equipment”.
Insurance
In the insurance sector, the Government will legislate for a Right to be Forgotten for cancer survivors, requiring insurers to disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years prior to application (or more than 5 years if the applicant was under 18 at the time of diagnosis).
Value for Money in State Spending and Infrastructure
The programme for government emphasises that it is “essential that public projects are an efficient use of taxpayers’ contributions”.
The Government has pledged to “review the public procurement process to make it more transparent”. While Fine Gael won’t be getting its Department of Infrastructure, a Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure will be established, led by the Taoiseach, to ensure infrastructural delivery, accountability and value for money.
Additionally, a new infrastructure division will be created within the Department of Public Expenditure.
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