Draft Programme

for Government
2025
Securing Ireland’s Future
Draft Programme
for Government
Securing Ireland’s Future
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................... 6
Réamhrá............................................................................................................8
Growing our Economy...................................................................................11
Enterprise and Employment................................................................................13
Public Finances.........................................................................................................17
Tourism.........................................................................................................................21
Agriculture and Food............................................................................................22
Fisheries and the Marine......................................................................................28

Delivery and Reform..................................................................................... 31

Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation..............32
Infrastructure............................................................................................................35

Accelerating Housing Supply..................................................................... 39

Protecting Our Environment....................................................................... 49

Investing in our Future................................................................................. 61

Children and Young People.................................................................................62
Education.................................................................................................................. 66
Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.......71
Transport....................................................................................................................74

A Caring Society........................................................................................... 83
Building a Healthier Future................................................................................ 84
Disability.....................................................................................................................92
Mental health............................................................................................................95
Older people............................................................................................................ 96
Equality and Inclusion...........................................................................................97
Social Protection.................................................................................................... 99
Thriving Communities............................................................................... 105
Driving Balanced Regional Development
& Supporting Rural Communities...................................................................106
Gaeltacht...................................................................................................................110
Rejuvenating our Capital City Centre............................................................. 112

Safe and Secure Communities....................................................................115

Justice......................................................................................................................... 116

Migration - A fair but firmer system ...............................................................122

Enriching our Society and Culture............................................................129

Arts and Culture....................................................................................................130
Sport.......................................................................................................................... 132
Media.......................................................................................................................... 134

Ireland’s place in the world........................................................................ 137

Strengthening Ireland’s place in Europe and around the world......... 138
Building our Shared Island and Rebuilding Ireland-UK Relations...... 142
Enhancing Ireland’s Defence............................................................................. 143

Political Reform...........................................................................................147
Strengthening Local Democracy....................................................................149

Functioning of Government...................................................................................153
Introduction
At a time of geopolitical upheaval and challenges to
democracy, the Irish people have given a significant
mandate for a Government which can provide stability and
deliver progress. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents
have come together in partnership to form a stable majority
to deliver an ambitious programme and five Budgets.

The Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties, as well as the

independent representatives, who will participate in and
support the new government, are committed to delivering
for all people and all regions across our shared island over
the next five years.

This is a programme of investment and reform, backed by

ambitious and credible actions, which will protect those
things which our country values and relies upon, while
also supporting significant progress in addressing critical
social, economic, political, demographic and environmental
challenges.
We commit to:

• Delivering a strong and stable economy, • Balanced development for all regions
the homes that people need, providing and improving living standards across all
high quality and accessible public parts of the country.
services and the infrastructure required
to sustain a growing society. • Sustained action to tackle the climate
crisis, to decarbonise the economy and
• Improving our competitiveness in a harness the digital and AI revolution
changing world; protecting jobs and to deliver effective and modern public
supporting businesses and the agri-food services and to grow the economy.
sector; and taking the necessary actions
to both prepare Irish enterprise for new • Enhancing our position and influence
challenges and to position Ireland ahead in international affairs and ensuring
of emerging economic trends. that Ireland is a positive and active
contributor to the European Union;
• Ensuring our communities thrive and and providing sustained action and
making our villages, towns and cities focus to deliver the understanding and
safer; to support a caring society and links which are essential to building a
to continue the focus on addressing permanent peace and reconciliation
poverty and social exclusion. between all parts of our island.

• Providing a step change in the supports The goals that we have set are ambitious
and services required by people with and they will be matched by a tireless
disabilities. focus on delivery. We are committed to
working together on the basis of this shared
• Investing further in a world class programme to provide a secure, caring and
education system and affordable, progressive society for all.
accessible and high-quality childcare;
improving transport services; and
providing better healthcare.
Réamhrá
Agus cúrsaí geopholaitíochta ina gcíor thuathail agus
dúshláin roimh an daonlathas, tá sainordú suntasach tugtha
ag muintir na hÉireann le haghaidh Rialtas atá in ann
cobhsaíocht a sholáthar agus dul chun cinn a sheachadadh.
Tá Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael agus Ionadaithe Neamhspleácha
tagtha le chéile i gcomhpháirtíocht chun tromlach
seasmhach a chruthú chun clár uaillmhianach agus cúig
Bhuiséad a sheachadadh.

Tá páirtithe Fhianna Fáil agus Fhine Gael, chomh maithe le

hionadaithe neamhspleácha, a bheidh rannpháirteach sa
rialtas nua agus a thacóidh leis, tiomanta beart a dhéanamh
de réir a mbriathair do chách agus do gach uile réigiún
ar fud ár n-oileán comhroinnte sna cúig bliana amach
romhainn.

Is clár infheistíochta agus athchóirithe é seo, le bearta

uaillmhianacha agus inchreidte chun tacú leis, lena
gcosnófar na rudaí a bhfuil meas ag pobal ár dtíre orthu
agus na rudaí a mbraitheann sí orthu, agus tacaíocht á
tabhairt don dul chun cinn suntasach ó thaobh dul i ngleic
le dúshláin fhíorthábhachtacha shóisialta, eacnamaíochta,
pholaitíochta, déimeagrafacha agus chomhshaoil ag an am
céanna.
Geallaimid an méid seo a leanas:

• Geilleagar láidir agus seasmhach a chur • Forbairt chothrom i gcás na réigiún uile
ar fáil, na tithe a theastaíonn ó dhaoine, agus feabhas a chur ar chaighdeáin
seirbhísí poiblí d’ardchaighdeán agus mhaireachtála ar fud gach cearn den tír.
inrochtana a sholáthar mar aon leis an
mbonneagar is gá leis an tsochaí atá ag • Gníomh marthanach a dhéanamh chun
fás ag coinneáil ag imeacht. dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim aeráide,
an geilleagar a dhícharbónú agus leas a
• Feabhas a chur ar ár n-iomaíochas i bhaint as an réabhlóid dhigiteach agus
ndomhan atá ag athrú, ag cosaint post IS chun seirbhísí poiblí éifeachtacha agus
agus ag tacú le gnólachtaí agus le nua-aimseartha a sheachadadh agus
hearnáil an agrai-bhia; agus ag déanamh chun an geilleagar a fhás.
na mbeart is gá chun fiontar na hÉireann
a ullmhú le haghaidh dúshláin nua, • Ár staid agus ár dtionchar i ngnóthaí
agus chun Éire a chur chun tosaigh ar eachtracha a fheabhsú agus cinnte a
threochtaí eacnamaíochta atá ag teacht dhéanamh de go gcuireann Éire go
chun cinn. dearfach agus go gníomhach leis an
Aontas Eorpach; agus gníomh agus
• Cinnte a dhéanamh de go bhfuil ár fócas marthanach a chur ar fáil chun an
bpobail faoi bhláth agus ár gcuid tuiscint agus na naisc a sheachadadh
sráidbhailte, bailte agus cathracha atá ríthábhachtach chun síocháin agus
a dhéanamh níos sábháilte; tacú le athmhuintearas buan a chothú idir gach
sochaí chomhbhách agus leanúint den cearn dár n-oileán.
bhéim ar aghaidh a thabhairt ar an
mbochtaineacht agus ar an eisiamh Tá na spriocanna atá leagtha síos againn
sóisialta. uaillmhianach agus beidh béim sheasta ar an
seachadadh ag gabháil leo. Táimid tiomanta
• Mór-athrú a chur ar fáil maidir leis de bheith ag obair lena chéile ar bhonn
na tacaíochtaí agus na seirbhísí an chláir chomhroinnte seo chun sochaí
a theastaíonn ó dhaoine atá faoi sheasmhach, chomhbhách agus fhorásach a
mhíchumas. chur ar fáil do chách.

• Infheistíocht a dhéanamh i gcóras

oideachais den chéad scoth agus i
gcúram leanaí inacmhainne, inrochtana
agus d’ardchaighdeán; feabhas a chur
ar sheirbhísí iompair; agus cúram sláinte
níos fearr a chur ar fáil.
Growing
our
Economy
Programme for Government

Growing
our Economy
Ireland is a small, open trading economy; Ireland must be a champion of reform within
that openness has been a key pillar of our the EU to ensure that economic growth and
continued economic success. Through a job creation is prioritised. Economic growth
strong foundation of Irish and multinational is not only essential to creating jobs and
exporting companies, together with a highly higher living standards, it is also essential to
skilled workforce and increased global trade, improving our public services.
we have built a strong industrial base which
has created jobs, grown exports, promoted This Programme for Government sets out
innovation, and raised our standard of living. a strong enterprise and fiscal framework
which will prioritise economic and
We can never take that economic employment growth, competitiveness, fiscal
success for granted. The open economic responsibility, investment in innovation,
model which we rely on, based on a energy and decarbonisation.
strong enterprise economy, free trade,
competitiveness, and innovation, is facing This Government will:
new headwinds which we must prepare for. • Deliver a clear and credible
The positive, global economic environment, macroeconomic and fiscal framework,
which has benefited Ireland for many years, prioritising continued economic
is no longer guaranteed. resilience, through investment in capital
spending and funds for future needs.
To protect the future security of our • Publish a new whole of Government
economy, we will set out a plan to increase Action Plan for Competitiveness and
productivity and the competitiveness of our Productivity within 12 months, with a
domestic and international businesses. key focus on reform. This plan will cover
industrial policy, reducing the cost and
We will take actions to fully realise the regulatory burden on business, investing
economic potential of the digital and AI in infrastructure, digital regulation and
revolution, and the development of new reform, energy reform, international
clean technologies which will be key drivers trade and research and development,
of growth and the decarbonisation of our and innovation.
economy. • Ensure that there is a targeted approach
to supporting and developing key
economic sectors, including a new
strategy on semiconductors, and in areas

12
 Growing Our Economy

where we have a strong competitive cut through unnecessary bureaucracy,

advantage, including in pharma and ensure access to finance and invest in
medtech, ICT and digital, financial vital infrastructure to help businesses
services and the agri-food sector. succeed. If we are to sustain economic
• Work to ensure that Ireland becomes a prosperity and continue to grow
global innovation leader, ensuring we are jobs, we must keep a laser focus on
agile and Ireland is positioned to support competitiveness and innovation over the
fast-growing, new companies. next five years
• Continue to build up our research
capacity and to increase the level
of research and development being 300,000 Extra Jobs
undertaken in our enterprise base,
ensuring that innovation is supported, This Government will:
from concept to commercialisation and • Target the creation of 300,000 extra
scaling up. jobs by 2030, supported by strategic
• Publish and implement a new National investments, supportive enterprise
Digital Strategy to fully realise the policies, and a focus on fostering a
economic potential of the digital and vibrant economy
AI revolution, and the development
of new clean technologies which can
be key drivers of growth and the Competitiveness and Productivity
decarbonisation of our economy.
• Use the resources of our diplomatic This Government will:
missions and agencies to deliver • Publish an Action Plan for
ambitious targets. Competitiveness and Productivity within
• Support a new US-based Economic 12 months, which will target making
Advisory panel which would be made Ireland the most supportive environment
up of senior Irish or Irish-linked decision for indigenous businesses and the most
makers in key business sectors. attractive location for startups and
foreign investment. This action plan will
include tax and wage policy, access to
finance, education and training, energy
and utility policy, infrastructure and
digitisation.
• Publish Enterprise 2035 as a long-term

Enterprise and ambition for enterprise growth and

job creation over the coming decade.

Employment Engage with Irish SMEs, startups and

exporters to review the supports
available from our enterprise agencies.
• Developing Ireland’s enterprise base • Assess all elements of labour market
will remain a key focus for Government policy that impact on the viability of
over the next five years – from backing SMEs.
small businesses and start-ups, to scaling • Work to ensure that Ireland is the
up indigenous firms and enhancing most secure location for data storage,
our attractiveness as a location for management, and services within the EU.
foreign direct investment. We will • Recognise the importance of digital
strive to reduce costs for business, infrastructure to the current and future

13
Programme for Government

growth of the Irish economy. regional assemblies, enterprise agencies,

• Recognise the central role data centres higher education bodies, industry and
play in contributing to economic growth others.
and the enterprise economy, and ensure • Reform the Smart Regions Enterprise
efficient grid usage, and that waste heat Innovation Scheme to ensure it is
capture for district heating systems and responsive in meeting local needs.
other uses is prioritised. • Bring forward an updated legal
• Work with likeminded EU member states framework for the co-operative model.
to ensure the fair application of state aid • Consider the development of economic
rules. Strategic Development Zones in the
• Boost participation in Important regions.
Projects of Common European Interest
(IPCEI) to increase competitiveness and
productivity for Irish companies and Supporting Small Business,
create more jobs. Hospitality and Retail
• Develop a new National Life Sciences
Strategy to ensure that this important • The Government will bring forward
sector remains competitive and measures to support SMEs, in particular
ensure Government adopts a coherent the retail and hospitality sectors,
and ambitious approach to future acknowledging the increased cost
opportunities. pressures on these sectors and this
• Shape the EU’s competitiveness will entail changes to VAT, PRSI and
challenge in a manner that benefits both other measures. These measures will
European and Irish citizens. be implemented as part of the normal
• Support an open, multilateral, rules- budget process.
based trade system, promoting free
trade policies and economic growth. This Government will:
• Support an ambitious EU trade agenda, • Establish a new Small Business Unit in
promoting new Free Trade Agreements, the Department to back small business,
with proper assurances regarding ensuring they have support and a
sustainability, human rights and the dedicated focus in government. Set
protection of our agricultural sector. up a Cost of Business Advisory Forum.
• Ratify the CETA trade agreement, This Forum will include a review of all
benefitting Irish SMEs. business taxes and costs and ensure
• Work with other EU countries to protect businesses are consulted before new
the principles of EU economic policy legislation or policies are introduced that
centred on competitiveness, innovation, impact small businesses.
and a level playing field. • Rigorously implement the SME test to
• Work to deepen the EU Single Market scrutinise every new piece of legislation
and create a genuine digital single and regulation for its impact on SMEs,
market. ensuring that any obligations that
• Work with EU partners to eliminate increase business costs are phased in
unnecessary bureaucracy in EU and that there is consideration of the
Directives and Regulations to facilitate broader implications of any decisions
business operations. affecting businesses across government.
• Publish and resource new regional • Undertake a look-back exercise to
enterprise plans and ensure detailed identify regulations that are now
consultation with local authorities, redundant to reduce unnecessary

14
 Growing Our Economy

red tape, asking each government with all government departments

department and regulatory agency to and agencies, fast-track the start-up
submit a list of such regulations. process, and collaborate with fellow
• Conduct a comprehensive review to entrepreneurs.
assess the cost structures for SME and • Support the National Digital
family-owned businesses to identify Research Centre (NDRC) and transfer
areas where costs can be reduced. responsibility to the Department of
• Ensure a skilled labour force by providing Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
practical support for on-the-job training • Support the National Enterprise Hub and
and apprenticeship schemes and ensure seamless access for SMEs.
consider additional measures to support • Consider the development of a new fund
SMEs in accessing training funded by structure to de-risk investment in start-
the NTF and reduce the costs associated ups and scale-ups.
with taking on apprentices. • Promote the uptake of the new
• Ensure Local Enterprise Offices are Enterprise Ireland €250m Seed and
resourced to help local businesses and Venture Capital Scheme.
adjust Enterprise Ireland’s mandate • Explore options to further incentivise
to better support small indigenous venture capitalists to invest in local
exporters and enhance its funding companies. This aims to attract more
model. Further consider the role of local international capital, positioning Ireland
authorities in supporting local SMEs. as a prime location for venture capital
• Review the operation of Local Enterprise investment.
Offices and publish a new National • Develop an all-island innovation and
Strategy within 12 months. entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Assist businesses in adopting sustainable • Continue to review and simplify the
practices and digital technologies and current Business and Enterprise Tax
work to support policies that increase system to promote innovation and
retail digitalisation. economic growth.
• Take steps to tackle retail crime (see • Maintain support for the Angel
Justice section for further information). Investment Scheme.
• Promote awareness of the Small • Scale up Enterprise Ireland’s global
Companies Administrative Rescue presence to support Irish businesses in
Process (SCARP) to protect viable jobs key markets.
and businesses. • Examine the regularity of SME reporting
• Continue to support InterTrade Ireland in and filing requirements.
helping SME businesses to identify and • Support SMEs to adopt and implement
pursue public procurement opportunities best practice for Cyber Security.
across the island of Ireland. • Work closely with the Irish Stock
• Efficiently implement the ICOB scheme Exchange to ensure future growth,
of 2024. focusing particularly on small-to-
medium-sized fast-growing companies.

Supporting Ireland’s Entrepreneurs

and Start-Ups

This Government will:

• Consider the development of a national
start-up hub for entrepreneurs to engage

15
Programme for Government

Helping Irish Companies Scale • Review and consider expansion of the

Globally and attracting more inward IDA land bank, including consideration
investment of new advanced manufacturing facilities
in strategic, regional locations, and
This Government will: developing next generation, strategic
• Work closely with IDA Ireland to sites.
publish a new five-year strategy to • Expedite the publication of a Private
2030, planning for global changes and Wires Policy Framework.
opportunities, with a particular focus on • Support Irish SMEs to access the supply
digitalisation and sustainability. chains of large Multi-National Companies
• Work with IDA Ireland to target at least that are based in Ireland.
half of IDA investments outside of Dublin • Support intellectual property rights
and expand our network of advanced for medicines to drive innovation and
manufacturing facilities. competitiveness.
• Facilitate collaboration between larger • Work to progress recommendations
FDI companies and indigenous firms, of the Shannon Estuary Economic
particularly focusing on digitisation and Taskforce, which are central to renewable
the green transition. energy planning, recognising the region’s
• Support new clusters to facilitate potential.
collaboration and collective action
among related companies, as well as
partnerships with higher education Protecting Consumers
institutions and public sector bodies.
• Support efforts to help domestic Irish This Government will:
businesses scale up, enabling more Irish • Commence an independent review
companies to grow internationally while examining the role of the Competition
retaining a substantial workforce in and Consumer Protection Commission
Ireland and abroad. in protecting and enhancing consumer
• Examine options to enhance the protection. This will examine the further
Research and Development Tax Credit, strengthening of legislation and the
reward innovation and digitalisation creation of two separate agencies to
and ensure Ireland has the global better deliver against these mandates of
best in class incentive to encourage competition and consumer protection.
innovation by domestic and international • Ensure a future structure better delivers
companies. the advocacy, information and advice
• Progress and prioritise the Irish National needs of consumers.
Semiconductor Strategy to take • Ensure that legislation and guidelines
full advantage of the opportunities regarding the disclosure of commercial
presented by the European Chips Act. content by online influencers are up-to-
• Target a 50% increase in large Irish date and effective.
exporters and 2,500 additional Irish- • Strengthen competition by promoting
owned exporters by 2030. price transparency in all sectors.
• Launch new calls under the Disruptive
Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) to
promote collaboration between Ireland’s
world-class research base and industry
to pioneer new technologies and support
the emergence of innovative start-ups.

16
 Growing Our Economy

Supporting Workers Social Entrepreneurship

This Government will: This Government will:

• Recognise the work of the independent • Continue to support the vital role of
Low Pay Commission, ensuring fair social entrepreneurship, recognising its
wages whilst also supporting the viability value in the local economy and society.
of small and medium-sized enterprises. • Review the vital supports available for
• Support the central role of the social enterprises from State Bodies.
Workplace Relations Commission and • Establish a forum to promote a
the Labour Court in industrial relations more integrated approach to social
and employment rights. entrepreneurship across government
• Work to promote a diverse and departments and build on Ireland’s first
equal workforce for all sections of National Social Enterprise Policy.
society, including from minority or • Consider an annual Social Enterprise
disadvantaged communities. Empowerment and Development
• Develop a Code of Practice to support allocation (SEED) to unlock the potential
the hiring of workers with a disability. of the social enterprise sector for
• Work with employers and across sustainable job creation, affordable
Government to improve employment childcare provision and community
of people with disabilities and ensure services.
that supports for entrepreneurs and
enterprise are accessible to all, including
people with disabilities with a goal of
reaching at least the EU average.
• Ensure citizens with disabilities can
access employment on an equal basis
to others by focussing on building skills,
capacity and independence, and develop Public Finances
bridges from special schools into
employment. We recognise that a strong economy is
• Continue to ensure employers make essential to a healthy and thriving country
reasonable accommodation for people and we are dedicated to managing the
with disabilities in the workplace. public finances responsibly and equitably
• Continue to promote the target of at for our citizens. Building and protecting
least 40% for representation of each economic prosperity is central to social
gender on boards to ensure Ireland cohesion, delivering high-quality public
remains aligned with international services and achieving our environmental
gender balance norms. objectives.
• Promote flexible working arrangements
that benefit both workers and employers, The decisions of the previous government
ensuring a balanced approach. allowed our country to successfully
• Publish an Action Plan for collective overcome a series of major, international,
bargaining in 2025 in line with our economic shocks. Our pro-European and
commitments under the EU Directive. pro enterprise economic model has resulted
• Implement the Department’s actions in our present position of economic strength
under the Zero Tolerance Domestic, with full employment, falling debt and
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence inflation levels, significant investment in our
Strategy. two long term funds and budget surpluses.

17
Programme for Government

We are acutely aware of the changing global economic and societal growth and
and geopolitical landscape which poses development. It will be published at the
risks to our economic strengths. As an open same time as the Summer Economic
trading economy, Ireland is more exposed to Statement in mid-2025.
policy changes, so the economic decisions • Implement a pro-enterprise tax policy,
we make now are crucial to ensuring how supporting long term investment in high
we best protect and safeguard our country quality jobs.
and our people for the years and decades • Prioritise early review of the National
ahead. Development Plan which will be
completed in July 2025.
Our core principles for managing the • The review of the National Development
public finances over the next five years will Plan will encompass all public capital
be to: investment and will utilise State funds
• Increase public sector investment to (including the Apple Escrow Fund,
address infrastructural deficits including other share sales, broader State funds
using windfall receipts to address including the Infrastructure, Climate
strategic gaps in key areas. and Nature Fund) to support increased
• Build up the two long term savings capital investment levels in housing
funds in preparation for fiscal challenges including funding the LDA, and will
including demographic changes, climate improve our infrastructure, especially
resilience and dealing with future shocks. energy, water, transport and health
• Run Budget surpluses and fund digitalisation.
appropriate levels of current and capital • Commit to fully funding the Future
expenditure growth to meet the needs of Ireland Fund (FIF) and the Infrastructure,
our people and address the challenges of Climate, Nature Fund (ICNF) as set down
our growing population. in legislation.
• Run progressive budgets through the • Following the completion of the existing
lifetime of the government. agreement, seek to negotiate a new
• Reduce public debt as a share of national national wage deal to strengthen our
income. public services, drive public service
reform and recognise the contribution of
Our commitments for the management workers in the delivery of public services.
of our public finances to safeguard our
country are:
• Prepare and submit a new Medium Taxation Priorities
Term Fiscal Plan setting out sustainable
budgetary plans for the next five years. This Government will:
Setting out a budgetary path, the • Maintain a broad tax base to guard
Plan will provide an anchor to support against the need for counter-cyclical
sustainable public finances and the fiscal policy in the event of a downturn
delivery of progress on key social and and to prepare for future budgetary
economic priorities of Government, challenges relating to population aging.
including the protection of the long-term • Implement progressive changes in
prospects of our country. taxation if the economy remains strong,
• The Plan will reflect the choices to be including indexing credits and bands to
made in relation to tax and expenditure prevent an increase in the real burden of
policy (taking account of both voted income tax.
and non-voted expenditure) to support • Continue to engage constructively

18
 Growing Our Economy

on international tax reform through This Government will:

the OECD process, recognising the • Progress and publish an implementation
need for our corporate taxation policy plan for consideration in Budget 2026
to reflect the globalised nature of taking into consideration the Funds
trade and industry. Maintain a tax Review recommendations to unlock retail
system that supports innovation and investment and opportunities to grow
entrepreneurship to ensure that Ireland this sector in Ireland.
remains an attractive place to sustain • Create 9,000 new jobs in international
and grow an existing business or to start financial services by 2030. This
and scale up a new business. ambitious target will drive growth and
• Acknowledging the increased energy enhance Ireland’s reputation in the global
cost pressures on households and market.
businesses, bring forward taxation • Continue to implement the Ireland for
measures to help contain energy costs, Finance Strategy and develop a new
including with regard to VAT. strategy for the period 2026 - 2030
seeking to further build on the success
of the sector. This will have a particular
Managing the public focus on the further development of the
finances in a downturn sustainable finance sector.
• Explore opportunities to enhance the
In the event of an economic downturn and Irish Stock Exchange as a vital source
unexpected deterioration in the public of equity and growth for indigenous
finances: businesses.
• Maintain access to cash and support its
• We would maintain capital spending to continued acceptance in our economy.
support the continued growth of the • Complete the task of normalising the
economy. domestic banking system to best serve
• We would also postpone changes to the interests of the economy.
income tax credits or bands, as we did in • Ensure best practice is maintained in
Budget 2021. relation to the Central Bank of Ireland’s
• We would work to protect the funding of independent oversight and supervision
existing level of public service delivery. of the financial sector in Ireland.
• Publish a national financial literacy
strategy to support improved financial
Financial services & Banking knowledge and understanding.
• Collaborate with industry leaders
Ireland has a world leading financial services to establish a National Fintech Hub,
sector supporting employment, driving fostering innovation and supporting
economic activity and attracting investment. fintech initiatives.
It is essential the sector is supported to • Simplify and modernise our regulatory
innovate, enhance its competitiveness and framework to ensure Ireland remains
take advantage of opportunities in new competitive within the EU and globally,
areas like fintech and green financing. The facilitating continued investment.
Government also commits to further action • Attract private market investment into
to drive down insurance costs impacting the economy through an enhanced
households, motorists and businesses, to regulatory framework, promoting
support our credit union sector and tackle regional growth and improving financial
fraud to protect our citizens. futures for Irish citizens.

19
Programme for Government

• Actively encourage the development of insurance and develop a subgroup to

regional financial services centres across assist existing insurers in expanding their
the country. offerings.
• Support the Women in Finance Charter • Legislate for a ‘Right to be Forgotten’
to promote gender diversity and for cancer survivors, requiring insurers
inclusion within the financial services to disregard a cancer diagnosis where
sector and across the public sector. treatment ended more than 7 years prior
• Enhance Ireland’s funds and asset to application (or more than 5 years if
management offerings to position the applicant was under 18 at the time
Ireland as a leading hub for Sustainable of diagnosis), taking account of EU
and Green Finance, catering to evolving requirements.
investor needs and the drive for better • Introduce tougher penalties for those
access to sustainable capital. who commit insurance fraud.
• Continue to support Abhaile, the • Maintain the Cabinet Sub-Committee
National Mortgage Arrears Resolution on Insurance Reform to ensure that
Service, to help people out of mortgage insurance issues continue to receive a
arrears and ensure the Code of Conduct high level of focus and cross-government
on Mortgage Arrears is enforced. coordination.
• Support the Financial Services and • Continue work to develop new guidelines
Pensions Ombudsman in its critical role to set clear rates and scales of fees
in supporting customers to deal with for all forms of civil litigation and take
complaints in a fair, transparent and further steps to resolve cases outside
timely manner. of court, promoting transparency,
• Advance the Savings and Investment competitiveness and fairness in legal
Union to enhance investment costs.
opportunities across Europe. • Proactively engage with the international
insurance market, including through
trade missions, to continue to attract
Insurance more competition.
• Facilitate faster data release from the
This Government will: National Claims Information Database
• Retain a dedicated minister for Financial to ensure that data collected is
Services, Credit Unions and Insurance. readily available to support market
This role will ensure focused oversight transparency.
and advocacy for insurance reform.
• Publish a new Action Plan for Insurance
Reform with a focus on encouraging Credit Unions
further competition in the market and
working with stakeholders to enhance This Government will:
transparency and affordability across all • Retain a dedicated minister for Financial
types of insurance. Services, Credit Unions and Insurance.
• Ensure adequate competition and a fair • Position credit unions as community-
market in respect of underwriters and centric financial institutions integral to
brokers. their local communities, small businesses
• Expand/Support the Office for the and farmers.
Promotion of Competition in the • Engage with the Central Bank to review
Insurance Market to ensure Ireland credit union lending limits to enhance
remains an attractive market for their ability to serve members.

20
 Growing Our Economy

• Support the digital transition for credit

unions in adopting new technologies and
to comply with the Digital Operational
Resilience Act. Tourism
• Expand the role of Ireland’s credit union
sector in the housing market.
• Amend the legislation to bring the Strengthening Ireland’s Tourism
credit union sector into the scope of the Sector
Dormant Accounts Act.
• Draft a five-year strategy for the credit This Government is committed to growing
union sector to ensure they can fully Ireland’s tourism industry. Through support
leverage new opportunities. for Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, we
want to showcase Ireland as a high-quality
and accessible destination for both national
Tackling fraud and international visitors.

This Government will:

• Working in collaboration with relevant Expanding our tourism offering
agencies and industry stakeholders,
act on the measures contained in the This Government will:
National Payment Strategy to effectively • Work with Fáilte Ireland to develop a
tackle fraud including the establishment balanced regional spread of tourism
of a fraud database. throughout the country, promoting
• Examine the feasibility of implementing and advancing the Hidden Heartlands,
an SMS scam filter that functions like Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic
email spam filters to help reduce scam Way and Dublin.
messages. • Launch the Year of the Invitation,
• Advocate for national and EU legislation extending a global invitation for visitors
that permits online platforms to only to reconnect with Ireland, following
advertise financial products from on from the success of The Gathering
companies regulated by their competent in 2013. This event will inspire local
national authority, helping to eliminate communities to organise welcoming
fake endorsements. events, celebrating Irish culture and
reconnecting with the global diaspora.
• Invest in regenerative tourism projects in
the Midlands with the help of the EU Just
Transition Fund.
• Develop the tourism potential of lands in
State ownership.
• Develop a strategy to sustainably
promote the ‘Ireland of Islands’ as a
unique tourist experience, marketing our
small island destinations.
• Publish and implement a new national
tourism policy to 2030, setting out a
vision to grow visitor and employment
numbers in the sector across Ireland.

21
Programme for Government

• Work to develop long-term, sustainable, projects have delivered for local towns and
well-paid careers in the tourism industry, villages. There is huge untapped potential in
and expand courses in tourism and other parts of the country to develop similar
hospitality. This will be achieved by amenities and market these to domestic and
engagement with the Department of international visitors.
Further and Higher Education as they
increase investment in this sector, This Government will:
utilising the National Training Fund. • Develop a connected network of
• Support and expand our food and greenways and cycle routes across
beverage tourism offerings, showcasing Ireland.
the best of local produce. • Develop more blueway projects across
the country enhancing water-based
tourism and recreational opportunities.
Improving Access to Ireland’s • Continue to invest in key regional
tourism destinations tourism projects under the Rural
Regeneration and Development Fund.
This Government will: • Through the Outdoor Recreation
• Conduct a review of National Aviation Infrastructure Scheme invest in the
Policy to maximise use of our airports. development of new walking trails,
(See Transport section for more detail). cycle ways, tidal pools and other unique
• Work with local authorities and national amenities at local level.
bodies to improve public transport • Work with Coillte to continue to invest
options and infrastructure to key tourism and upgrade visitor amenities at our
spots, making travel more convenient for Forest Parks across the country.
visitors. • Working in partnership with landowners,
• Continue the development of greenways continue to expand and increase
and cycle routes across Ireland investment in the National Walks Scheme
expanding scenic options for tourists. creating flagship walking and hiking trails
• Collaborate with partners north and across the country.
south of the border to expand blueways, • Ensure that the LEADER Programme
enhancing water-based tourism and continues to have a strong focus on
recreational opportunities. Rural Tourism.
• Work with local authorities and Fáilte
Ireland to enhance and upgrade the Wild
Atlantic Way and develop a new and
innovative coastal route along the East
and South coast.

Unlocking Rural Ireland’s Tourism Agriculture and

Potential
Food
One of rural Ireland’s greatest strengths is
its stunning natural amenities. Every county Farmers are the custodians of our
has its own unique natural assets from forest landscape, ensuring sustainable food
parks, mountain trails, rivers, greenways, production for a growing world population
bogs and beaches. We have seen the huge as well as a major driver of the rural
economic benefits that major Greenway economy.

22
 Growing Our Economy

This Government will support farmers plant for wool in developing an Irish wool
and the agri-food sector by using every brand.
policy lever available and ensure vital farm
payments are protected and expanded.
Tillage
As Ireland will hold the EU presidency in
2026, protecting farmers and farming at The Government will:
EU level will be an absolute priority for this • Invest significantly in the tillage sector
government in terms of the new Common over five years to maintain and grow the
Agricultural Policy (CAP). sector.
• Examine facilities for processing of Irish
crops and explore openings for oilseed
Protecting and enhancing farm and milling wheat processing.
incomes

Strengthening farm incomes for our 130,000 Dairy

family farms is an absolute priority for this
Government. We will continue to support The Government will:
the suckler, beef, dairy, sheep, pig, poultry, • Increase scheme support to the Dairy
tillage, horticulture and organics sectors Beef scheme over a five-year term
along with vital farm schemes. in office and ensure straightforward
measures to encourage uptake.
• Support dairy-beef systems by
Sucklers/Beef implementing the Dairy Calf to Beef
action plan.
The Government will:
• Increase scheme supports for suckler
farmers over a five-year term in office Poultry and Pigs
and ensure straightforward measures to
encourage uptake. The Government will:
• Financially incentivise the use of • Increase market access for poultry and
genetically superior beef AI/stock bulls. pig products, while funding capital
• Promote the Protected Geographical investments in these sectors in order to
Indicator (PGI) for Irish Grass Fed beef improve animal health and welfare.
as a premium brand in overseas markets,
while developing new PGIs to enhance
the value of Irish food exports. Horticulture

The Government will:

Sheep • Increase capital investment support via
the Horticultural Grant.
The Government will: • Work to increase new people into the
• Increase scheme supports for sheep sector, providing more education and
farmers over a five-year term in office training places.
and ensure straightforward measures to • Recognise Irish strawberries as a
encourage uptake. heritage crop and ensure their continued
• Examine the feasibility of a scouring production.

23
Programme for Government

• Assist in the upgrading of production post 2027, ensuring simplified payments

facilities, particularly glass houses, to for farmers, along with balanced and
ensure efficient production systems and proportionate controls.
reduction in energy usage.
• Maintain access to plant protection
products while protecting public and • Reduce the administrative burden
animal health. and red tape that famers encounter
by ensuring flexibility in the design of
schemes and stakeholder input at all
Organics times.
• Work at EU level to secure new
This Government will: funding streams, which are separate
• Continue to support the promotion and to CAP, to support farmers in meeting
marketing of organic products in order environmental responsibilities.
to increase returns to producers. • Ensure access to a farm capital
• Maintain the Organic Farming Scheme. investment scheme.
• Accelerate IT capabilities in the
Department of Agriculture in order to
Protecting important farm supports enhance systems and avoid payment
delays.
The Government will:
• Continue to fund the vital income
support provided through the Areas of Supporting inter-generational farm
Natural Constraints scheme to farmers succession
in designated areas who face significant
hardship. This Government will:
• Review payment rates on designated • Ensure a Farm Succession Scheme that
land under the Farm Plan Scheme. supports generational renewal.
• Review investment items and reference • Act on the recommendations of the
costs under the Targeted Agricultural Commission on Generational Renewal in
Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). Farming who are examining the current
• Examine a mechanism to engage with policy framework, along with available
stakeholders on the design of national policy tools and supports available to
agriculture schemes. encourage young people into the sector.
• As part of the development of the next • Update the eligibility criteria for the
CAP, ensure schemes fully consider Farm Succession Partnership tax credit
the impact of designation of land and by revamping support and eligibility
seek to reflect the financial impact of criteria.
designation of land on farmers in the • Review the eligibility criteria for the
framing of future CAP schemes. Succession Planning Advice Grant to
ensure better take-up.
• Examine young farmers’ financing
A strong CAP that works for farmers options, which entails targeted
installation aid or low-interest loans.
This Government will: • Continue the current array of key
• Fight at EU level for a fully supported agricultural tax reliefs.
CAP with an increased budget. • Support farm transfers by reviewing
• Work at EU level to simplify the CAP the tax-free threshold for Capital

24
 Growing Our Economy

Acquisitions Tax. • Expand the Agricultural Sustainability

• Ensure Ireland remains an exemplar in Support and Advisory Programme
agricultural education by investing in (ASSAP).
agricultural colleges and facilities. • Continue to support the EIP Farming for
Water scheme by increasing funding.
This vital scheme improves water quality
Supporting farm families in priority areas nationally and directly
aids farmers with advice, support and
This Government will: resources.
• Work with the Department of Health to • Enhance collaboration on water testing
examine the Fair Deal Scheme in order by improving partnerships between
to ensure it does not impede succession farmers, Teagasc and the EPA in order to
planning and recognises the distinctive uphold water quality.
position of agricultural land.
• Deliver a scheme that recognises the
category of farmers known as the Harnessing renewable energy in the
‘Forgotten Farmers’. Agriculture Sector
• Increase the Traditional Farm Buildings
grant. This Government will:
• Ensure sufficient employment permits to • Reward farmers for producing energy
support the agri food sector including for their private use or by selling excess
the equine, dairy, horticulture, fish and energy to the electricity grid to diversify
food processing industries. their income.
• Examine community-led ownership
models for renewable energy production
Retain the Nitrates Derogation at EU as an additional income stream for
level farmers.
• Promote solar uptake on farms and
This government will do everything within continue the 60% TAMS grant to support
its power to make the case at EU level farmers to install solar PV systems.
to secure the retention of the Nitrates • Introduce planning guidelines for
Derogation given our unique grass-based solar farms and provide certainty in
production model. We will work with the development of solar energy in
famers, industry, state agencies and local agriculture.
authorities to develop evidence-based • Offer financial incentives for the National
solutions to assist farmers in improving Biomethane Strategy. We will target the
water quality. production of up to 5.7 Tera Watt Hour
(TWh) of biomethane by 2030.
This Government will:
• Establish a Cabinet Committee on Water
Quality chaired by the Taoiseach to Opening new markets and increased
coordinate water quality improvements transparency in the food supply
across all sectors. chain
• Work with farmers and industry to
secure Ireland’s nitrates derogation at This Government will:
EU level, by implementing the Nitrates • Accelerate work in opening up new
Derogation Renewal Plan in support of markets for Irish food products.
retention. • Update and introduce a new food

25
Programme for Government

strategy to succeed Food Vision 2030 in its operation. We will ensure that this
in consultation with farmer and industry €1.5 billion flagship agri-environmental
stakeholders. programme continues to provide an
• Give An Rialálaí Agraibhia (the Agri- important income support to farm
Food Regulator) enhanced powers to families, while improving biodiversity.
ensuring transparency in the food supply • Continue to acknowledge the special
chain with regard to providing market economic and social role of agriculture
information. and the distinct characteristics of
• Work with like-minded EU countries to biogenic methane and support the
stand up for Irish farmers and defend progress made to date by farmers and
our interests in opposing the current industry in reducing emissions.
Mercosur trade deal. • Maintain support to farmers on High
• Protect vital live export markets as Nature Value lands.
an important income source, while • Introduce a National Framework
maintaining the highest animal welfare for Carbon Farming to guide the
standards. development of a Carbon Farming
Scheme to strengthen farm incomes.
• Maximise soil health and fertility, such as
Driving food security and through the Soil Sampling Scheme.
sustainability forward together • Continue funds supports to farmers to
invest in capital infrastructure including
We will support the Irish agricultural sector nutrient storage.
so that it continues to be a world leader in
carbon-efficient food production.
Women in agriculture
This Government will:
• Assign funds from the Infrastructure, This Government will:
Climate and Nature Fund to the • Examine potential barriers for women
agricultural sector. farmers within the taxation system to
• Ensure that all measures under the ensure greater inclusivity and fairness.
Nature Restoration Law (NRL) will be • Implement the National Women in
completely voluntary for farmers. Agriculture Action Plan to support
• Work intensely to ensure that rewetted gender equality including:
and restored lands remain eligible for * Promote female succession.
CAP payments and ensure dedicated * Liaise with Revenue to address
funding streams for voluntary actions. any taxation barriers to female
• Ensure there is adequate farmer participation.
representation on the Nature Restoration
advisory committee.
• Progress Ireland’s Nature Restoration Income Volatility Tool
Plan and ensure restoration actions on
State lands. This Government will:
• Complete the second phase of the Land • Examine a new farm income volatility
Use Review, which aims to balance taxation measure to safeguard farmers
environmental, social and economic from markets rising and falling.
consideration.
• Follow through on the findings of the
review of ACRES to address challenges

26
 Growing Our Economy

Strengthening animal welfare Farm safety

This Government will: This Government will:

• Introduce more robust sanctions for • Continue to prioritise improvements
animal welfare violations and ensure in farm safety, health and well-being
inspection teams are well-resourced in through strengthened supports.
carrying out their enforcement role. • Place a specific focus on farmer mental
• Maintain premier animal welfare health and well-being, recognising the
standards by advancing a zero-tolerance unique challenges faced by the sector.
culture in animal care and safety. • Promote positive mental health and
• Increase funding to animal welfare wellbeing across the farming sector.
groups.
• Upgrade regional veterinary laboratories.
Innovation in Agriculture, Food, and
the Marine
Equine and Greyhound sectors
This Government will:
This Government will: • Support investment in research and
• Continue to support our equine sector’s development in the agtech and food
status as a global leader and deliver on sectors to help deliver advancements
key strategic infrastructure projects. and encourage collaboration.
• Support the development of the sport • Develop Ireland’s bioeconomy through
horse sector. Enhance the marketing and a coordinated approach that harnesses
breeding of Irish sport horses. Ireland’s natural resources and
• Ensure the continued support to the competitive advantage.
Horse and Greyhound Fund, considering • Support advancements around food
the vital economic and social and nutrition through support for food
contribution generated by these sectors hubs and other initiatives that encourage
in rural areas. innovation in food production and
• Ensure that Rásaíocht Con Éireann processing.
continues to provide financial support • Ensure a comprehensive strategy to
for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust support local and artisan food and
(IRGT) and contributes to rehoming drink producers in developing Irish food
greyhounds. culture and production.
• Make additional resources available
to enhance both animal welfare and
traceability in our equine and greyhound National TB Eradication Strategy
industry.
• Bring forward a Control of Horses Bill This Government will:
to modernise legislation in this area • Review and update the National TB
and to ensure a consistent approach to 2030 Eradication Strategy by working in
enforcement powers around detention, collaboration with farmers and industry.
notice and release of stray horses seized • Ensure appropriate staffing of the
by local authorities. Wildlife Control Programme and
resource regional veterinary offices to
carry out this vital work.
• Ensure the Irish Deer Management
Strategy Group action plan is sufficiently
resourced.
27
Programme for Government

Foresty

Fisheries and
This government will continue to support
the forestry sector and provide attractive
financial incentives to farmers to plant given
the beneficial environmental impact. the Marine
This Government will: We deeply value the role of fisheries in the
• Ensure that our €1.3 billion Forestry future of our country and the communities
Programme delivers a licensing system that rely on this activity for their livelihood.
that is effective, while continuing to
provide and promote financial incentives We will stand up for fisheries in quota
for farmers to plant. negotiations to return the maximum yield,
• Review upfront planting costs. while maintaining stock levels according to
• Ensure a balanced mix of tree types, the latest scientific evidence.
including a strong diversity of the
species planted, with an increased We will also maintain support for the inshore
proportion of broadleaves nationally. fishing sector, aquaculture as well investing
Work to develop more commercially in our State Fishery Harbour Centres and
viable crops. public marine infrastructure.
• Continue to implement the current
Forestry Programme. This Government will:
• Work with all stakeholders to remove any • Re-establish a Minister of State for
barriers to plant and fell trees within the Fisheries/Marine who will work closely
current Forestry Programme. with the Cabinet Minister.
• Work collaboratively with the ESB to • Publish a five-year Fisheries Sector
support and accelerate the timber and strategy that will include an examination of
vegetation clearance programme. the processing sector.
• Continue to support the Ash Dieback • Continue to support and promote
scheme. improvements in fisheries and aquaculture.
• Continue to promote and ensure • Examine incentives for fishers to land their
financial support for farmers engaging in catch in Irish ports, with a view to support
Agroforestry. the domestic processing sector.
• Fight at EU level for Common Fisheries
Policy reforms that ensure fairer quotas for
Veterinary and Farm Contracting Irish fishers and due recognition is given
Services to the proportion of fish species caught in
Irish waters.
This Government will: • Promote the sustainability of fish stocks,
• Expand the number of trained vets while ensuring sufficient supply of species
through the enlargement of our to allow fishers into the future derive a fair
veterinary education footprint. return.
• Assess the requirement for an additional • Liaise with fishing stakeholders and
veterinary college. request that Revenue examine the current
• Set up a farm contracting working tax allowances for the sector and bring
group to consider training, support and forward recommendations on how the
taxation measures. taxation system can further support its
progression.

28
 Growing Our Economy

• Explore fleet adjustment measures and a Marine Tourism Strategy. This will
consider any changes given the ever- be aimed at drawing domestic and
evolving scientific advice on fish stocks. international tourists to our coastal
• Support the Seafood/Offshore villages.
Renewable Energy Working Group • Market eco-tourism by providing support
in providing an important bridge to to wildlife activities such as whale and
facilitate discussion on issues arising dolphin watching. We will also safeguard
from the interaction of these sectors, and marine species while expanding the
to encourage open dialogue between tourism industry.
stakeholders. • Establish initiatives that will protect our
• Defend Irish Fishing interests ahead of maritime cultural heritage.
the 2026 review of the UK-EU Trade
and Cooperation Agreement and in
discussions on third countries.
• Work at EU level to increase supports
to the European Maritime, Fisheries and
Aquaculture Fund.
• Ensure the promotion of marine
education courses and degree
programmes with a view to increasing
enrolments.

Coastal Communities

This Government will:

• Ensure the diversification of coastal
economies and establish new openings
beyond traditional industries.
• Support coastal communities towards
benefitting from the development of
offshore renewable energy projects.
• Review and strengthen conservation
measures for marine ecosystems and
wildlife. We will also expand Marine
Protected Areas (MPAs)and establish
wildlife sanctuaries.
• Continue to support the sustainable
development of our aquaculture
sector and modernise and streamline
aquaculture licencing in the State
through legislation changes.
• Set up a Maritime Regeneration,
Development and Conservation Fund.
This fund will support harbours, marinas,
and tourism development as well as
actions to address coastal erosion.
• Liaise with Fáilte Ireland to launch

29
Delivery
and Reform
Programme for Government

Delivery
and Reform

Public In the past five years there has been

more than €65 billion invested in capital

Expenditure, infrastructure projects across our country

to improve people’s lives. This Government

Public Service is very aware that we need to do more to

improve our country’s infrastructure and to

Reform and meet population growth.

Digitalisation We want to ensure that projects are

delivered in a timely manner and that value
for money is always paramount.
Ireland has a strong economy and has full
employment. Our life expectancy is one of This Government will:
the highest in Europe and we have a highly • Establish a new Unit for Future Planning
educated workforce. to forecast demographic changes and
ensure accurate estimates of the demand
The State plays an essential role in people’s for essential services and employment.
daily lives, supporting them with vital public • Work to lower the cost of services for
services in areas such as welfare, health, users and for the State itself by ensuring
education, and security. We must ensure there is a focus on reform at the heart
that these services meet the needs of our of all Government decision making to
citizens in all the ways in which they depend deliver best use of resources and to
on the support of the State. deliver best outcomes for people and
communities.
The number of people living in Ireland is • Transform our public services by
estimated to exceed six million by 2030. expanding the services to meet the
As our population grows, it is essential that demands of a rapidly growing population
people can continue to avail of those public and applying the latest technologies
services when they need them, in a timely and maximising the potential benefits of
and efficient manner, through increased AI to better plan for and deliver those
access and improved delivery. This will mean services.
better use of data to plan and provide for • Empower people to access a host
the maintenance of existing levels of services of public services easily, whether
and meeting changing demographics. online or in person including through

32
 Delivery and Reform

enhanced digital platforms. Ensure to make it more transparent and work to

the integration of digital services ensure greater participation from small
across government departments as an and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in
alternative access channel for users, Ireland in the procurement process.
including through continued investment • Deliver necessary improvements in how
in the Digitalisation of Life Events and government departments report capital
the Digital Wallet, and establish a single spending on an annual basis to ensure
digital unit to enhance the delivery of greater transparency and oversight of
public services online. expenditure on a regional basis. We will
• Support the work of the Office of the consider the need for statutory reporting
Government Chief Information Officer obligations, as appropriate. Continue
(OGCIO) in the digitalisation of public to support external oversight of the
services. National Development Plan, including the
Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board and
the Major Projects Assurance Group.
Value for Money in State Spending • Ensure the Office of Public Works (OPW)
and its structures deliver best value for
Our country has a large public and civil money outcomes on all projects.
service, and they do tremendous work • Promote the ‘Where Your Money Goes’
across the country on a 24/7 basis. The website so that citizens are informed as
political and administrative systems work how their money is being spent.
closely together to implement government
priorities, and it is important that there is
administrative and political accountability. Staffing and reforming a Public
Sector for the Future
It is essential that public projects are an
efficient use of taxpayers’ contributions. As We recognise the critical role that public
we plan for increased capital investment, sector workers play in delivering essential
a focus on value for money is even more services. Successive public pay agreements
critical. While many projects are completed have acknowledged their contributions and
on time and within budget, we must ensure promoted stability in industrial relations.
that all projects are delivered effectively – In line with the future pay agreements, we
both for those who will use them and for the will continue to focus on a reform agenda,
taxpayer. ensuring that our public and civil service
evolves to meet the needs of modern
This Government will improve how public Ireland, facilitating the delivery of improved
services are delivered by improving public services.
investment, culture and productivity. We will
also heavily invest in modern technologies We will continue to ensure that the civil and
and digitalisation to enable us to improve public service attracts and retains the best
services. and the brightest, working for the State.

This Government will: This Government will:

• Support the work of the Irish • Negotiate a new public sector pay deal,
Government Economic and Evaluation linked to a reform agenda, to succeed
Service (IGEES) to provide critical the existing deal which recognises the
economic and value-for-money analysis. central contribution of workers in the
• Review the public procurement process delivery of better public services.

33
Programme for Government

• Broaden the experience of those working Our Digital Future

in the public service by further improving
structures for talent development.
• Continue to support the apprenticeship Ireland as a Leader in the Digital
model within the civil service to support Economy and Artificial Intelligence
skill development and recruitment.
• Offer a paid internship programme The Government is committed to ensuring
targeted at underrepresented groups that Ireland is a leader in the digital
and individuals to provide them with economy and artificial intelligence.
valuable experience in government
departments. This Government will:
• Undertake a programme of workforce • Update the National Digital Strategy
planning to identify the optimal to bring together digital policy and
staffing model within the public sector regulatory responsibilities and lead on
to meet the needs of our changing delivery of these objectives across all
demographics. Departments and Agencies.
• Review the Civil Service Blended • Invest to make Ireland an EU centre
Working Policy Framework and consider of expertise for digital and data
how the implementation of this approach regulation and being a regulatory hub
best delivers public services and for companies operating across the EU
supports the productivity of the public Digital Single Market.
sector. • Realise the full benefits of digitalisation,
• Implement the Civil Regulation including AI, to increase productivity of
and Public Service Management Irish businesses.
(Amendment) Bill. • Work with our EU partners to ensure
• Support the upskilling of public sector that Ireland and the EU is well-placed
workers to ensure that they have the to benefit from the innovation and
digital skills to enhance service delivery, investment potential of new technologies
particularly in areas such as data like AI, while also protecting privacy and
utilisation, AI integration, and user- other fundamental rights.
friendly design. • Provide citizens with the choice of better
• Ensure that cash is accepted by public public services online, while increasing
bodies. the efficiency of service delivery
• Complete the review of the Freedom though digitalisation of public services,
of Information Act and consider any particularly in health.
proposed recommendations. • Implement an eInclusion Strategy to
ensure no one is left behind by the move
to a digital society.
• Ensure that small businesses are helped
to achieve basic digital intensity, towards
the target of 90% by 2030.
• Reform funding eligibility for digital
grants and consultancy to ensure it is
simplified and accessible.
• Promote the new Grow Digital Portal,
which will help businesses self-assess
their digital needs.
• Invest in digital skills at all levels, from

34
 Delivery and Reform

basic digital literacy for all citizens • Tackle broadband blackspots that are
to being a leader in higher education not included in the National Broadband
and research in areas like Artificial Plan Intervention Area currently
Intelligence and Quantum Computing. and which will unlikely be served by
• Ensure that the skills necessary for commercial operators.
AI deployment, AI innovation and AI • Maintain support to the Mobile Phone
support are provided through our and Broadband Taskforce in removing
education and professional learning mobile phone and internet black spots,
networks. especially along roads and rail networks.
• Resource and implement the new EU We will examine the role of 5G in helping
Online Safety Framework to protect to overcome these blackspots.
vulnerable groups from online harm, and • Increase the number of remote working
tackle disinformation. hubs and ensure dedicated spaces to
• Seek financial and other support for data support local entrepreneurs and start-
interconnections with other EU member ups as well as a potential landing space
states and with countries around the to be used by workers in FDI companies.
world, building on Ireland’s existing • Support Learning and Career
strengths on data interconnections. Development through Connected Hubs
• Deliver a new National Cybersecurity • Work to provide all schools with high-
Strategy in 2025 and promote a centre speed internet broadband, so as to
of excellence for cyber security skills. prepare students for a digital future with
• Complete research on the impact of seamless access to technology resources
digital devices on our classrooms and and adaptive learning methods.
consider the report’s findings. AI has
the potential to enhance education and
inclusion and we will ensure it is used
appropriately in education settings.

Delivering Broadband
Infrastructure
The Government is committed to the roll- The Government recognises that delivery
out of highspeed broadband under the of essential infrastructure is a key driver
National Broadband Plan. The increase in in attracting and retaining investment in
Remote Working following the pandemic Ireland, growing our economy, fostering
has been hugely positive for rural Ireland regional development, delivering on our
enabling people to live and work in their housing targets and achieving our ambitious
own community. We recognise the immense climate goals.
opportunities that connectivity can generate
for work, education, health, and rural Delivery of large-scale projects vital for the
development. economy and society in areas including
energy, transport, water, flood defences and
This Government will: climate resilience can be subject to timing
• Complete installing high-speed fibre challenges. Issues include the planning
broadband to 1.1 million people, process, legal challenges, inconsistent
including homes, farms, and businesses timelines in sponsoring agencies
nationwide, by 2026. (government departments, state agencies,

35
Programme for Government

local authorities, higher education institutes • Broaden the remit of the National
or other state bodies) in completing Development Finance Agency (NDFA)
appraisals and developing business cases as in the National Treasury Management
required under the Infrastructure Guidelines, Agency (NTMA) to provide expert
and multi-annual funding requirements. advice for major infrastructure delivery
as required by sponsoring departments
Delays to project delivery result in higher or agencies.
costs and hamper our ability to provide the
necessary infrastructure to service a modern Mindful of the need to ensure projects
society and economy. It also represents represent value for money, the Infrastructure
a real risk to our competitiveness and to Division will:
our attractiveness as a location for foreign
direct investment. • Work directly with sponsoring agencies
including Government departments,
Stable, long-term delivery of essential the Office of Public Works and state
infrastructure is a priority for the agencies to expedite delivery of project
Government. To ensure projects are assessments, appraisals, business cases
delivered as early as possible and within and other stages of the approvals
budget, this Government will: process with a view to aiding quicker
decision making.
• Prioritise early review of the National • Review the Infrastructure Guidelines
Development Plan which will be and create a Public Investment Act,
completed in July 2025. requiring sponsoring agencies to meet
• Review and reform the prioritisation timelines on development of project
process of capital projects in key appraisals and other evaluations so as
agencies. to reduce delays in decision making and
• Create a dedicated Infrastructure embed value for money across all capital
Division in a re-named Department projects.
of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, • Assist sponsoring agencies in complying
Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. with local, national and EU environmental
The Division will be led by a Deputy and development standards.
Secretary General. • Ensure relevant expertise in project
• Task the new division to work with management, procurement, planning,
stakeholders to advise Government engineering and other disciplines is
on strategic project selection and available within the Division to aid timely
prioritisation, aligned with national delivery.
priorities and making maximum use of • Work with stakeholders to develop
resources. mechanisms to reduce delays in
• Ensure the division develops a obtaining sanction when directly
sustainable pipeline of projects, allowing employing relevant specialist expertise.
for continued investment over the • Meet with sponsoring agencies regularly
medium to long-term to deliver upon the to review progress of projects.
ambition of the National Development
Plan.
• Create a Cabinet Committee on
Infrastructure, chaired by the Taoiseach,
to drive infrastructural delivery,
accountability and value for money.

36
Delivery and Reform

37
Accelerating
Housing
Supply
Programme for Government

Accelerating
Housing Supply
Housing is a major social and economic dereliction with enhanced compulsory
challenge that touches every generation. purchase order (CPO) powers and an
This Government will prioritise a radical step ambitious grant system.
change in housing supply to rise to that
fundamental challenge. Most importantly we will build on the
momentum generated to achieve our
Housing supply has increased significantly target of delivering more than 300,000
over the past decade. The first ever cost new homes by the end of 2030. The State
rental homes and affordable purchase will take the lead in driving down costs,
homes have now been built and occupied; reducing red tape, overhauling our planning
first time buyer numbers are at their highest system and supporting direct delivery. This
rate since the mid-2000s and the highest will be underpinned by an ambitious, all
social housing build in half a century has of government approach that utilises both
been achieved. the public and private sector to drive on
delivery.
However much more needs to be achieved.

We will accelerate the progress made under

Housing for All with a new fully funded, More Homes
radical and realistic housing plan to get
more homes built. This Government will This Government will:
place special emphasis on supporting home
ownership.
Targets
Increasing supply is the key to addressing
the housing crisis and the Government will • Introduce a new, all of government
pursue every action possible to support national housing plan to follow Housing
people out of homelessness and give for All, underpinned by a multi-annual
children the best start in life. We will build funding commitment.
record levels of social homes and launch a • Ramp up construction capacity to build
new Starter Home programme to support over 300,000 new homes by the end
people to get the keys to their first home. of 2030 in line with the revised Housing
Targets to meet both existing and future
We will continue to tackle vacancy and demands.

40
 Accelerating Housing Supply

Planning & active land management and energy connection agreements, to

ensure large developments can proceed
• Implement the Planning and without delay.
Development Act 2024. • Establish a new procedure for large
• Fully resource the Ministerial Action developments above 100 units where
Plan on Planning resources including the a developer can meet local authority
recruitment of additional planning staff planners and Uisce Éireann on site to
to help deliver homes faster. iron out issues at pre-planning stage.
• Create a regularly updated, public audit • Invest additional capital in Uisce Éireann
of zoned, serviced, and unzoned land, to support reaching our new housing
informed by a national land audit, to help targets. We will prioritise water and
plan for 300,000 homes by the end of waste water infrastructure to deliver
2030. the capacity to facilitate housing
• Increase the quantum of zoned and development in our towns and villages.
serviced land, to accommodate new • Ensure Uisce Éireann prioritises the
homes, through the implementation of a delivery of the Small Towns and Villages
revised National Planning Framework. Programme.
• Ensure the Planning and Environment • Continue to implement the scheme
Court is sufficiently resourced to swiftly targeting Waste Water Collection
deal with planning litigation. and Treatment needs for villages and
• Enact a new Compulsory Purchase Order settlements without access to public
Bill with streamlined and strengthened waste water services.
CPO powers to activate under-utilised • Establish a new Towns and Cities
land for home building. Infrastructure Investment Fund to
• Continue to implement the Land Value replace the Urban Regeneration and
Sharing, Residential Zoned Land Tax Development Fund (URDF).
and Vacancy taxes, with protections for • Prioritise housing infrastructure in the
active farmers, to penalise land hoarding Commission for Regulation of Utilities
and ensure zoned land is developed. (CRU) operational practices.
• Require local authorities to facilitate • Integrate the existing Housing Delivery
a pre-planning meeting for every new Groups into a new Strategic Housing
significant residential, community and & Infrastructure Delivery Office under
infrastructural development above a set the Minister for Housing to help co-
threshold, as directed by the Minister. ordinate and accelerate home building
• Examine and develop a Green City pilot, by unblocking infrastructure delays. This
in line with the Sustainable Development office will also co-ordinate investment
Goals. in the servicing of zoned lands for
homebuilding.

Infrastructure
Investing in Towns & Urban Renewal
• Support Uisce Éireann in the delivery
of key strategic projects in our cities Under the new Towns and Cities
and regions. Security of water supply Infrastructure Investment Fund, this
is critical to delivering our housing and Government will:
economic national priorities. • Create a new strategic fund to invest in
• Introduce statutory timelines for infrastructure, to acquire land, assemble
preconnections, water / waste water sites, de-risk sites in existing towns and

41
Programme for Government

cities to maximise their potential growth. Modern Methods of Construction

• Support the development of new (MMC)
transport orientated development
towns as necessary, replicating the • Set up a MMC Innovation Fund via the
development of Clonburris and Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF),
Adamstown. to directly fund new housing factories,
• Continue and expand URDF investments and the expansion of existed factories.
in projects to regenerate the public • Leverage state capital investment to
realm. promote MMC and set binding targets
• Include all towns with a population over for MMC use in at least 25% of all State-
10,000 in the designation of ‘key towns’ backed housing.
and ensure towns which fall slightly • Overhaul and resource the National
below the population thresholds are Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)
considered for applications under this to ensure all-encompassing regulatory
Fund. certs are issued in a timely manner,
harmonising Irish regulations with EU
regulations to open up new market
Reducing delays and red tape opportunities.
• Promote the use of timber in new
• Introduce a single stage approval buildings and ensure multi storey timber
process for all standardised Social frame residential units can be built.
Housing and affordable housing projects • Expand the role of Ireland’s credit union
• Introduce a National Housing sector in the housing market.
Procurement Strategy to support • Increase co-ordination and additional
housing standardisation and use state resourcing of organisations’ training
spending and regulatory power to programmes; and develop and fund
reduce costs delays. more dedicated apprenticeship and
• Ensure State policies support the internship options for MMC in housing.
collaborative development of standard
house and apartment types to drive
efficiency, reduce costs and support Land Development Agency (LDA)
viability.
• Establish a Central Housing Construction • Further capitalise the LDA out to 2030.
Supply Unit in the Department of • Increase the LDA housing delivery
Housing to coordinate, monitor and targets up to 2030.
track all major public sector construction • Strengthen the LDA’s CPO powers.
projects to ensure accelerated delivery. • Accelerate the transfer of under-utilised
• Establish Land Activation Units in each state lands appropriate for residential
Local Authority. development to the LDA.
• Create a Land Price Register. • Streamline the consent and approval
• Work with the EU Commission to process for the LDA.
revise State Aid rules to provide a new • Mandate the LDA to work with
investment platform for affordable and developers approved under the Croí
sustainable housing. Cónaithe Cities scheme to provide a cost
rental back stop for such developments
to increase viability of apartments for
sale.

42
 Accelerating Housing Supply

Apprenticeships Help to Buy scheme

• Target 12,500 new apprentices annually • Retain and revise the Help to Buy
by 2030, with two-thirds of them in scheme.
craft/construction, and strengthen links • Extend the Scheme until 2030.
between education providers and the
sector.
• Increase permits for residential First Home Scheme
construction workers and actively recruit
abroad through state agencies and • Work with the banks to expand the First
embassies. Home scheme to first time buyers of
second-hand homes.
• Extend the scheme to 2030.
Financing the Housing Market • Increase the First Home scheme targets
in keeping with the increase in starter
• Achieve stable and predictable policy home targets.
to attract and retain private investment
combined with record state levels of
funding to finance the €24 billion per Starter homes provided by local
annum needed to build 60,000 homes authorities
annually by 2030.
• Develop new financing sources, • Repurpose the Local Authority
especially for brownfield sites and Affordable Purchase Scheme to become
small builders, with support from Home part of the Starter Home programme to
Building Finance Ireland (HBFI), the enhance uptake.
Housing Finance Agency (HFA) and • Increase the geographic spread of
domestic banks as well as state support Starter Home Schemes by collaborating
of equity investment. with local authorities to expand
• Introduce Cost Rental backstops, affordable purchase options in all
allowing local authorities and the LDA to counties.
reduce financial risk.

Local Authority Home Loan

Starter Homes • Create a new central national

administration point for the scheme.
This Government will: • Ensure the maximum loan values align
• Launch a new, comprehensive Starter with current house prices, keeping the
Home programme across the public, scheme accessible.
private and AHB sector, which promotes • Examine the expansion of the Local
home ownership and secures long-term Authority Home Loan to allow a
rental tenures for young people and separated or divorced person to buy the
fresh start applicants. full mortgage on a home.
• Support and deliver an average of • Examine how the Local Authority Home
15,000 starter homes per year, driven by Loan could support non-bank lender
an expanded First Home Scheme, the mortgage holders.
Help to Buy support, in addition to other
schemes.

43
Programme for Government

Croí Cónaithe delivery of this goal.

• Conclude the review of the Approved
• Continue the Croí Cónaithe Cities Housing Body (AHB) sector to ensure
scheme to support the construction of economies of scale are achieved and
apartments for owner occupiers. delivery expertise is enhanced for these
strategic delivery partners.
• Focus local authorities and AHBs on
Protect Houses and Duplexes from reformed delivery models in achieving
bulk purchases new targets and restrict the ability of
local authorities or Approved Housing
• Maintain the Owner Occupier Guarantee Bodies (AHBs) to bulk purchase
in planning regulations for houses and developments at the end of the
duplexes and keep the stamp duty construction process.
surcharges under review to ensure they • Introduce a new voids programme,
prohibit bulk purchases. implement long term strategic reforms
and mandate local authorities to
establish voids frameworks to improve
Homebuyer Help Package the turnaround of vacant social housing
units. Require local authorities to provide
• Set an 8-week conveyancing target for tenant names to AHBs before project
the legal profession. completion for quicker move-ins.
• Significantly reduce the time taken
for the Probate Office to process
applications to extract grants of probate. Reduce homelessness and protect
• Fully implement e-conveyancing by vulnerable households
2027, reforming outdated legal practices
such as wet signature requirements. This Government will:
• Accelerate registration of land titles. • Reaffirm our commitment to the Lisbon
• Establish an expert group to make the Declaration, and work towards ending
home bidding process clearer and more homelessness by 2030.
transparent, drawing on international • Provide emergency accommodation
best practices. for everyone who needs it with special
• Task the Competition and Consumer supports for children impacted by
Protection Commission with creating homelessness.
a step-by-step home-buying guide • Ensure a holistic, cross departmental
and establishing a dedicated portal for approach to homelessness prevention.
reporting bad practices. • Create 2,000 Housing First tenancies to
help eliminate long term homelessness.
• Require local authorities to prioritise

Social Housing the leasing of one-bedroom units,

addressing the immediate needs of
single households.
This Government will: • Focus social housing allocations on
• Continue to roll out the largest social getting families out of long-term
housing programme in the history of homelessness.
the State, building on average 12,000 • Continue the Social Housing Tenant
new social homes per annum, with local in Situ Programme to prevent
authorities playing a key role in the homelessness, with annual targets

44
 Accelerating Housing Supply

and budgets assigned for each local Tackle vacancy & dereliction
authority.
• Fully implement the Youth Homelessness This Government will:
strategy. • Extend the vacancy and dereliction
• Reform the 1988 Housing Act. refurbishment grants to 2030, continuing
• Implement the revised Housing to review the grant levels and expand
Adaptation Grant limits and eligibility targets in line with an increase in housing
criteria. targets.
• Ensure full draw down of Traveller • Ensure that every local authority has an
accommodation funds. expanded vacant property team in place
to help bring vacant properties back into
use.
Supporting a Better System for • Improve the administration of the
Renters and Landlords vacancy and dereliction grants.
• Continue the Local Authority Home Loan
The Government will: bridging finance to support the use of
• Progressively increase the Rent Tax the vacancy and dereliction grant.
Credit. • Streamline and update legislation
• Build more cost rental units through governing CPO powers and derelict sites.
the LDA, local authorities and Cost • Ensure local authorities update,
Rental Equity Loan funding to AHBs, implement and enforce their derelict
embedding cost rental as a category of sites register.
tenure on a permanent basis. • Roll out the new special Local Authority
• Keep the income criteria for cost rental Mortgage for vacant properties.
under review to ensure sufficient cohorts • Create an ‘Above the Shop’ living
of tenants qualify for the scheme. refurbishment grant by topping up the
• Continue the Secure Tenancy Affordable vacant and derelict refurbishment grant.
Rental investment (STAR) scheme to This will help make spaces above retail
support affordable rents while reviewing premises liveable.
its criteria, to ensure greater take up by • Introduce further ‘Above the Shop’ living
the private development sector. incentives through a commercial rates
• Help renters seeking to become reduction pilot scheme.
home buyers with a series of targeted • Continue the Repair and Lease and
measures through the tax system and Buy and Renew Schemes for five more
the First Home Scheme. years, targeting 1,000 additional homes
• Protect Renters and Landlords from annually by building on best practice as
abusive practices by: demonstrated by Waterford City and
* Establishing a Rent Price register. County Council.
* Enhancing the enforcement powers of • Introduce a cost rental version of the
the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) Repair and Lease scheme on a pilot
and establishing statutory timelines basis.
for dealing with complaints. • Ensure existing water and waste water
• Continue to review the effectiveness of connections for vacant and derelict
the Rent Pressure Zones. properties are credited in the calculation
• Continue the landlord tax credit. of new connection charges levied, to
• Earmark certain cost rental units for key derisk the cost of bringing properties
local workers. back into productive residential use.

45
Programme for Government

Improving Management for

Help owners of Apartment and Duplex Owners

defective houses • Move responsibility for the Multi-Unit

Development Acts to the Department
and apartments of Housing to streamline support for
owners’ management companies and
This Government will: improve oversight.
• Establish a Buildings Standards • Establish a unit in the Housing Agency
Regulatory Authority to strengthen the to regulate owners’ management
oversight role of the State in respect of companies to ensure effective
the design and construction of buildings. governance.

Defective Multi-Unit Developments

Practical Housing
• Continue to implement an interim
remediation scheme for defective Options for Positive
apartments.
• Roll out Retrospective Payment Ageing
pathfinders.
• Legislate and implement a This Government will:
comprehensive remediation scheme • Mandate local authorities to find suitable
including retrospective payments for sites for housing specifically designed for
defective apartments. older adults, ensuring accessible options
within local communities.
• Simplify and make it easier to convert
Defective Concrete Block Scheme houses into separate living spaces,
allowing older adults to continue living in
• Continue to implement the Defective familiar surroundings while adapting to
Concrete Block Scheme. changing needs.
• Undertake the planned review of the • Examine the requirement for exempted
scheme. development to the rear of a dwelling
• In line with legislation, expand the to be physically attached to the main
scheme to counties impacted by the dwelling house.
issue. • Review and Standardise the Older
Persons Housing Financial Contribution
Scheme.
Pyrite • Support AHBs in developing and
managing senior housing with onsite
• Extend eligibility for the Pyrite support services, fostering safe,
remediation scheme to include homes supportive communities.
with damage category rating of 1 with
progression.

46
 Accelerating Housing Supply

Rural Housing
• Continue to support one-off, rural
housing.
• Continue to support one-off self-builds
through the Help to Buy Scheme and the
First Home Scheme.
• Ensure each Local Authority develops
serviced sites to facilitate the
construction of 3-10 housing units, within
at least three towns and villages in their
administrative area, on an annual basis
via the Ready to Build Scheme.
• Support group water schemes and
private well grants.
• Implement the special rural water
investment scheme (the unsewered
villages scheme).
• Review planning and transport guidelines
for national secondary roads to facilitate
housing, community and industrial
development.
• Protect and expand the Vacant and
Derelict refurbishment grant scheme.

47
Protecting
Our
Environment
Programme for Government

Protecting Our
Environment
Our climate is rapidly changing. Human our industrial base as a leader in renewable
activity, primarily caused by greenhouse energy, while ensuring energy security and
gas emissions, has caused global surface sustainability. We want to achieve energy
temperatures to rise 1.1˚C above 1850- independence by harnessing our untapped
1900 levels. In 2023, Europe experienced renewable energy resources.
the fastest continental warming and
faced significant impacts from climate We will work at home and abroad to
change. Atmospheric carbon dioxide mitigate against the worst effects of climate
(CO2) concentrations are currently higher change and prevent catastrophic levels of
than at any time in at least 2 million years. global warming.
The science is unequivocal; continued
greenhouse gas emissions through the
burning of fossil fuels will lead to increased
global warming.

Time is of the essence as global warming

continues. The Government is committed
to taking decisive action to radically reduce Our Climate
our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve
a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to Goals
2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions
no later than 2050. In 2023, we achieved a nearly 7% reduction
in emissions, equating to almost one
Climate action is not just better for the tonne less climate pollution per person.
environment and the planet. When it is The Government’s approach will ensure
done right, climate action provides warmer, continued climate progress while growing
more comfortable homes; cleaner air; more the economy.
liveable and walkable communities, and
better transport connectivity across our This Government will:
island. • Deliver actions to achieve a 51%
reduction in emissions from 2018 to
In delivering climate action, we will secure 2030 and net-zero emissions no later
a better, healthier, and more resilient future than 2050.
for Ireland and secure the advantages for • Set ambitious targets to reduce

50
 Protecting Our Environment

greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 This Government will:

and ensure we have the correct mix of • Implement a Whole-of-Government
incentives and regulations to deliver Strategy to fully integrate the SDGs into
those aims across all sectors of the national policies and initiatives, ensuring
economy. that each goal is actively pursued across
• Publish an annual Climate Action Plan, all levels of government.
placing a focus on a smaller number of • Ensure there is continued support
strategic and impactful actions across all for climate finance delivered through
sectors, and publish a quarterly progress Ireland’s Overseas Development Aid
report. programme, particularly in areas where
• Strengthen the delivery structures to communities are vulnerable to climate
deliver the Climate Action Plan through impacts.
the Climate Action Delivery Board. • Actively support climate initiatives to
• Enhance and improve the Governance address the severe effects of drought,
Structures to deliver the Climate Action famine, and lack of clean water in
Plan and the underpinning legislation. collaboration with international partners.
• Recognise the distinct characteristics • Support the work of young people to
of biogenic methane, as described by help their communities and promote the
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Sustainable Development Goals.
Change, and advocate for the accounting
of this Greenhouse gas to be re-classified
at EU and international level. Futureproofing Ireland’s Built
• Complete a review of greenhouse gas Environment
emissions on a consumption basis,
with a goal of ensuring that Irish and The Government is committed to making
EU actions support the reduction of Ireland’s buildings more sustainable and
global emissions, as well as on our own energy-efficient, reducing reliance on
territories. fossil fuels, and lowering energy costs for
• Support the Just Transition Commission’s households. By promoting retrofitting,
work to listen to communities, address renewable heating, and solar energy, we aim
their concerns, and ensure they benefit to make homes warmer, cheaper to heat,
from the green transition. and less reliant on fossil fuels.

This Government will:

Achieving the Sustainable • Ramp up our targets to deliver more B2-
Development Goals equivalent home retrofits each year from
2026 to 2030, with a focus on lower
The Government is committed to income households.
accelerating Ireland’s progress toward the • Revise and improve the provision
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of grants and financing models for
by 2030, addressing critical areas such as homeowners who wish to retrofit,
poverty eradication, climate action, and enhancing energy efficiency and
improved living standards for all. These reducing costs. Ensure all grants and
goals represent a global commitment schemes are accessible to older people
to a better future, and we will adopt a in our community.
coordinated approach to drive impactful • Support group retrofitting projects,
action both at home and abroad. allowing neighbours to upgrade their
homes together with guided support,

51
Programme for Government

making the process easier and more port facilities, and ensure a dependable
economical, and develop innovative schedule of renewable energy auctions.
finance solutions. We are focused on ensuring that local
• Increase the number of Sustainable communities benefit from Ireland’s
Energy Communities. renewable potential, with job creation,
• Build on the pilot schemes and develop community ownership, and tangible
a mechanism to allow private homes economic returns.
in social housing estates to opt into
retrofitting projects at an adjusted This Government will:
cost, creating a fair opportunity for all • Develop a comprehensive plan
residents. to accelerate energy generation,
• Promote the €500 million Home Energy connectivity, and planning processes.
Upgrade Loan Scheme, offering low- The plan will emphasise renewable
interest loans for home energy upgrades, sources to provide certainty for
from €5,000 to €75,000. industries making short- and medium-
• Target older homes still using oil to term investments. This plan will also
switch to renewable heating systems, guide the development of data centre
lowering carbon footprints and costs. infrastructure in alignment with our
Consider the use of sustainable biofuels decarbonisation objectives and growing
to reduce emissions from existing home Ireland’s knowledge-based economy.
boilers where deep retrofits are not • Ensure that the necessary investment
possible in the short term. Improve is made through the electricity
traceability in HVO procurement to transmission and distribution system by
ensure the product is from sustainable operators in the electricity grid. Explore
sources. how a range of other funding sources,
• Enact legislation in 2025 to accelerate such as from the European Investment
the roll out of district heating systems. Bank, can be utilised.
• Implement new regulations to encourage • Prioritise investment into our electricity
the use of timber in new building grid to update our power generation
projects, supporting sustainable building systems to enhance security and
materials. affordability for consumers and
• Explore if legislation could be enacted businesses.
to divert surplus renewable energy, that • Explore funding models of the
would otherwise be wasted, to homes in Renewable Electricity Support Scheme
fuel poverty. and the Public Service Obligation (PSO)
• Explore mechanisms to incentivise levy which would reduce electricity bills
households to adopt renewable energy for households and businesses.
sources for their homes. • Take all necessary action to ensure and
protect Ireland’s energy security.
• Develop and accelerate the roll-out
Leading a Revolution in Renewable of new electricity interconnectors, to
Energy ensure Ireland is well positioned to be a
net exporter of electricity to the UK and
The Government is committed to achieving the EU.
80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from • Support the development of an
renewable sources by 2030. To reach this interconnected energy market within the
goal, we will establish a clear regulatory EU.
pathway, enable network upgrades, improve • Establish national renewable energy

52
 Protecting Our Environment

clusters, co-located with training and renewable energy projects.

education centres, to allow local people • Support Irish Companies to integrate
to benefit from jobs and investment into the offshore wind supply chain.
opportunities. • Expand the Offshore Wind Energy
• Commission an independent review into Taskforce to include IDA Ireland and
the speed and level of passthrough from focus on attracting and retaining capital
wholesale prices to retail prices, with an investment to drive offshore wind
additional assessment of the overall price development.
dynamics and an overall focus on the • Ensure quarterly reports from the
competitiveness of the Irish economy. Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE)
• Prioritise a review and reform of the Taskforce to the relevant cabinet
legislation underpinning the Commission committee.
for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). • Ensure the managed development of
• Emphasise that low costs for households solar energy and battery power through
and businesses are a central tenet in the the development of national planning
updated mandate of the CRU. guidelines.
• Intensify the transition to lower-cost • Ensure that cutting-edge research and
renewables in electricity generation, and development in renewable energy is
transition away from expensive imported supported, including in wave, tidal, and
fossil fuels. hydrogen energy, and utilise a number of
test sites.
• Provide more upskilling and training
Accelerating Renewables opportunities across the green economy,
including in retrofitting and renewable
This Government will: energy development and maintenance.
• Deliver 9GW of onshore wind, 8GW solar • Expand support for Centres of
and at least 5GW of offshore wind by Excellence on college campuses to foster
2030. partnerships between academia and
• Move to holding at least one Renewable industry, developing new solutions to cut
Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) emissions.
auction per year to ensure that Ireland • Ensure a policy is put in place to
continues to bring renewable energy streamline repowering and life extension
projects onstream at a fast pace. of existing onshore wind farms that are
• Prioritise the publication of Wind Energy nearing end of life.
Development guidelines, having regard
to international best practice and
standards. Empowering Communities in
• Fast-Track Offshore Wind Development Renewable Energy and Making
by prioritising the publication of Climate Action Accessible
Designated Maritime Area Plans
(DMAPs) and ensure the relevant The Government believes that communities
agencies are sufficiently resourced to hosting renewable projects should directly
accelerate these developments. benefit.
• Utilise the new Planning Act to fast-track
developments. This Government will:
• Develop a strategic, regionally balanced • Support communities to secure grid
approach to upgrades of ports to realise access for local renewable projects.
the economic potential of facilitating • Ensure community gain arrangements

53
Programme for Government

are in place and consider permanent, Data Centre Policy

cheaper electricity as a possible option
under community gain schemes. The Government recognises the criticality
• Facilitate employment opportunities in of digital infrastructure in economic
constructing, maintaining, and servicing growth and the delivery of public services.
renewable infrastructure, integrating This importance will only grow with the
local businesses into the supply chain. development of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Promote the Small-Scale Renewable
Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to This Government will:
simplify market access for community- • Allow data centres that contribute to
owned solar and wind projects. economic growth and efficient grid
• Explore ways to use surplus renewable usage, such as prioritising waste heat
energy to help reduce energy poverty, capture for district heating systems and
ensuring that renewable energy benefits other local uses.
all communities. • Enhance data centres’ use of renewable
• Continue to increase the uptake of smart energy sources, energy efficient
meters and ensure their de-carbonisation technology and effective solutions, such
potential is fully realised. as waste heat capture to reduce their
carbon footprint.
• Scale up investment in critical
Supporting Economic Growth with infrastructure and in our electricity
Renewable Energy grid which will be advantageous for
customers and enhance the data centre
The Government aims to leverage renewable footprint to support continued FDI
energy to attract new industries and investment.
support existing ones. • Provide nationwide 5G for high-speed,
low-latency connectivity, which is
This Government will: important to the tech sector and data
• Develop Green Energy Industrial Parks centres.
to attract large-scale investments in • Expedite the publication of a Private
regional locations, co-located with Wires Policy Framework.
renewable generation.
• Advance battery development and take-
up to allow portable energy and reduce Supporting Industry to Decarbonise
grid dependence.
• Work to progress recommendations of The Government is committed to helping
the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Irish industries reduce emissions through
central to renewable energy planning, investment in efficient, low-carbon
recognising the region’s potential. technologies.
• Encourage State agencies to service
large parcels of land near sources of This Government will:
renewable electricity to add economic • Launch a Roadmap for Industrial Heat
value. Decarbonisation.
• Develop a targeted roadmap to help
manufacturers transition to low-carbon
heating solutions in their production
processes.
• Work with heavy industry to reduce

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 Protecting Our Environment

emissions, including commissioning • Support activities such as forestry

research on delivering zero carbon planting that deliver carbon abatement.
cement and look at international best • Work with farmers and rural
practice. communities to realise the transition
• Increase take-up of grants to support opportunities from energy efficiency,
small businesses in adopting energy- renewable electricity and heat, efficient
efficient technologies, cutting costs, and food production and nature-based
reducing their environmental footprint. solutions.

Accelerating Decarbonisation and Promoting a Circular Economy

Modal Shift in Transport
The Government is committed to ending
Modal change in Transport is vital to the wasteful cycle of take-make-consume-
the delivery of our climate change throw-away, promoting sustainable
objectives. Policies to deliver this will practices that extend the life of products
include accelerating the electrification of and reduce waste.
the transport system, including electric
bikes, electric vehicles, and electric public This Government will:
transport (see further information in • Support enterprises in the circular
Transport section.) economy such as repair and
refurbishment centres.
• Provide investment in sorting technology
Supporting A Sustainable Transition in Ireland’s materials recovery facility
in Agriculture (MRF) network to improve recycling
processes and rates.
The Government recognises the special • Revise public procurement guidelines
economic and social role of agriculture for waste minimisation within 12 months
and the distinct characteristics of to ensure the Government supports
biogenic methane, as described by the waste reduction and circular economy
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, principles.
and this will be recognised in plans to • Ensure the Office of Government
achieve targets within the agriculture sector. Procurement (OGP) plays a leadership
role in embedding green public
This Government will: procurement across the public sector,
• Support Irish farmers and food including through setting minimum
producers to continue to produce world- mandatory green public procurement
class food whilst reducing greenhouse criteria in the public sector and ensuring
gas emissions and improving economic, compulsory reporting to monitor
social and environmental sustainability in progress.
agriculture. • Publish a plan to expand producer
• Assist farmers and the agriculture sector responsibility schemes to take
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by accountability for the full lifecycle of
supporting the adoption of practical products.
abatement measures. • Work with EU Member States to
• Provide sustainable diversification encourage the further reduction and
options for farmers to generate new or prevention of plastic packaging and
additional sources of farm income. consider ways to increase the use of

55
Programme for Government

compostable materials. • Install solar panels, renewable energy

• Continue and expand the Clean Oceans sources, or connect to district heating
Initiative to collect, reduce and reuse where feasible in suitable public
marine litter and clean up our marine buildings, including to schools and third
environment. level institutions across Ireland.
• Require each local authority to create • Continue the transition of the State’s
a circular economy strategy focused vehicle fleet to zero-emissions.
on waste reduction, with a particular • Increase the provision of EV charging
emphasis on food and construction points at public buildings.
waste. • Support local authorities to implement
• Set Waste Reduction Targets in tailored local climate action plans.
appropriate sectors of our economy, • Mandate local authorities to expand and
encouraging sustainable practices. promote biodiversity and support urban
• Support development of waste ecosystems.
management infrastructure. Assess the
need for a new waste to energy facility
and maintain a renewed focus on zero Carbon Tax for a Sustainable Future
waste infrastructure.
We are committed to using the carbon tax
as a key tool to encourage a shift away from
Public Sector Leading on Climate fossil fuels and invest in a sustainable future.
Action This approach ensures those who are most
vulnerable receive targeted support, making
The Government is committed to ensuring the transition fair and equitable.
government departments, local authorities,
and State agencies lead by example in This Government will:
climate action, integrating sustainability • Continue with the planned carbon
into all aspects of the public service. By tax increases, aligning with
setting clear targets and policies, we can recommendations from the Climate
drive innovation, reduce costs, and support Change Advisory Council and scientific
Ireland’s climate goals. experts.
• Continue to use carbon tax revenues
This Government will: to fund social welfare measures, agri-
• Mandate each government department, environmental schemes and retrofitting.
local authority, and State agency to
publish a renewable energy plan within
the first year of government, detailing Improving our lived environment
how they can increase their use of
renewables. The Government is committed to tackling
• Ensure every government department littering and illegal dumping, creating
Statement of Strategy includes Climate cleaner cities, towns, and villages across
Action and decarbonisation as a key Ireland. Through stronger enforcement,
priority. regular clean-ups, and ambitious waste
• Strengthen the Public Sector Climate reduction targets, we aim to keep our
Action Mandate. public spaces beautiful and support a more
• Develop a programme to improve the sustainable approach to waste.
energy efficiency of public buildings.

56
 Protecting Our Environment

This Government will: Protecting Heritage and Nature

• Increase penalties to deter littering and
illegal dumping, ensuring those who Ireland is rich in unique natural and historic
harm our environment face significant heritage, a vital national asset that we must
consequences. cherish, protect and bequeath to future
• Target dumping black spots and use generations.
tools like CCTV and drones to monitor
dumping hotspots, making it easier to Since 2020, we have significantly increased
catch and penalise offenders. funding to the National Parks and Wildlife
• Work with local authorities for cleaner Service (NPWS), established Ireland’s first
public spaces to ensure cities, towns, and Marine National Park and new legislation
villages are cleaned more thoroughly now requires all public bodies to integrate
and regularly, improving quality of life biodiversity into their plans and policies.
and community pride. The Infrastructure, Climate & Nature Fund
• Continue efforts to raise air quality will also ensure ongoing protection for our
standards, especially in urban areas, environment for future generations.
ensuring healthier environments for all.
• Prioritise urban greening of the existing Building on this progress, we will
built environment in cities, towns and implement a comprehensive action plan
villages to strengthen our national heritage. This
active commitment to heritage and nature
is grounded in partnership with local
Preparing for Climate Adaptation communities and sustainable conservation,
and Extreme Weather ensuring that Ireland’s unique environment
and cultural landmarks are cherished for
The Government is committed to protecting years to come.
Ireland’s present and future generations by
investing in climate adaptation measures This Government will:
to manage the impacts of extreme weather • Create new national parks and increase
events. We recognise the need to support funding to the NPWS to support its
communities, businesses, and ecosystems as operation and visitor experiences.
climate risks continue to rise. • Acquire key national heritage assets,
prioritising state acquisition at both
This Government will: national and local level.
• Develop an Extreme Weather Event • Further develop and strengthen the
Assistance Scheme for homes, NPWS as Ireland’s leading natural
community organisations, farmers and heritage agency.
businesses. • Implement a Conservation Plan for the
• Streamline and simplify the delivery Curragh, establishing a management
of flood relief initiatives to address plan to ensure its preservation, with
the threats posed by river and coastal careful consideration of which agency
flooding . is best suited to manage this historic
• Advance the National Coastal Change landscape.
Management Strategy and initiate three • Create an NPWS internship programme
pathfinder schemes in selected coastal encompassing traditional skills, ecology,
areas. wildlife rangers and advanced nature
research.
• Promote and encourage an expansion

57
Programme for Government

of Dark Sky Ireland national parks and Protecting and Enhancing Inland
reserves. Fisheries
• Develop Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan
with prioritisation of restoration actions The Government is committed to preserving
on State lands and in consultation and our inland fisheries and recognises their
partnership with farmers and local contribution to the rural economy and
communities on voluntary measures. their environmental benefit. We will work
Commit to clear targets within the to ensure our inland waters continue to be
National Biodiversity Plan, working sustainable and well-managed to support
closely with local authorities to achieve both local communities and ecosystems.
meaningful progress in each area.
• Continue to invest in managing the This Government will:
spread of invasive species. • Bring forward an action plan to maintain
• Continue to support local authority healthy fish stocks and safeguard inland
biodiversity officers in their work to fisheries as an important resource for
protect our natural environment. rural areas.
• Continue to invest in the Community • Protect and recognise the Great Western
Monuments Fund, the Historic Structures Lakes as salmonoid waters, so they will
Fund and the Built Heritage Investment continue to be pristine habitats for native
Scheme. fish species.
• Support applications for additional • Modernise and consolidate legislation
UNESCO recognition sites to showcase pertaining to inland fisheries.
Ireland’s heritage internationally • Carry out an independent review of
and examine the role of the National Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Monuments Service in the progression of • Work to provide robust oversight and
these applications. accountability by engaging with the
• Examine further measures to increase inland fisheries sector.
the level of donations of cultural
and heritage goods to the national
collections, including raising the annual
ceiling for donations and ensuring a
broader group of institutions can benefit.
• Work with stakeholders on an all-
island basis to conserve, refurbish, and
improve access to built heritage and
archaeological sites, promoting cultural
unity and heritage appreciation.
• Review the 1995 Heritage Act.
• Explore the creation of a National Centre
of Excellence for Traditional Skills.
• Create a Heritage Research Unit within
the Heritage Council.

58
Investing in
our Future
Programme for Government

Investing in our
Future

Children and To ensure this change works for everyone

we will undertake a broad consultation and

Young People publish a detailed Action Plan to build an

affordable, high-quality, accessible early
childhood education and care system
Early childhood is a time of great with State-led facilities adding capacity.
opportunity to shape a child’s development This plan will enhance parental choice
and build a secure foundation for their through ongoing support for public,
future. For children to achieve their full private and community provision, as well as
potential they need opportunities for care childminders.
and education and parents or guardians
need to be supported in providing the This Government will:
best start that every child deserves. We
will continue to support the work of the Affordability
Ombudsman for Children and ensure that • Progressively reduce the cost of
the voices of children and young people are childcare to €200 per month per child
reflected in the development of policies that through the National Childcare Scheme
affect them. and explore options to cap costs for
larger families.
• Ensure childcare providers’ fees are
Affordable, accessible and high- open, transparent and equitable and
quality childcare readily available to parents.
• Review and increase core funding,
Affordable, accessible, and high-quality ensuring the fee cap is maintained and
childcare is not just about giving children that the model is open, transparent and
the best opportunities, it is also about equitable, and that early years educators
enabling families to make decisions that in the private sector benefit from
work for them. Employment Regulation Orders.
• Reduce the administrative burden on
We will continue to grow State involvement providers.
and investment in the sector, while working
in partnership with private providers,
recognising this is an important element of
supply.

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 Investing in our Future

Access Quality and Inclusion

• Resource and transform the Supply • Examine and expand the Access and
Management Unit into a Forward Inclusion Model (AIM) and make it
Planning and Delivery Unit within the available to younger children.
Department to identify areas of need, • Continue to build up the Equal
forecast demand and deliver public Start programme, ensuring children
supply within the childcare sector where experiencing disadvantage can access
required. and participate fully in early learning and
• Provide capital investment to build or childcare.
purchase state-owned childcare facilities, • Explore making available an extra hour
to create additional capacity in areas of ECCE each day in the second year of
where unmet need exists. preschool.
• Plan the development of State-led • Evaluate options to amend the ECCE
facilities in tandem with the school eligibility criteria.
building programme, including Irish-
medium naíonraí.
• Work with schools to host before and Childminders
after-school care, and examine start-up
supports for groups involved in after- Childminding plays a significant role in the
school activities. provision of early years and school aged
• Review the 2001 Childcare Facilities care and should remain a viable choice for
Guidelines for Planning Authorities to parents.
ensure childcare spaces are provided
and put into use. This Government will:
• Extend the National Childcare Scheme to
childminders working in the family home,
Early Years Educators with sensible regulations that fit home-
based care.
• Continue to implement Employment • Support childminders through the Tusla
Regulation Orders to attract and retain registration process and expand access
early years educators. to local training opportunities.
• Remove barriers in education and • Continue to provide grants that help
training for early years educators to childminders improve safety and quality
broaden access to the profession. through essential toys, equipment, and
• Introduce an ‘Earn and Learn’ technology.
apprenticeship model enabling childcare
staff to gain qualifications and advance
their careers. Reducing Childhood Poverty
• Examine the establishment of a
professional register for childminders Child Poverty is not inevitable, and by
and early years educators, reflecting ensuring a determined focus we can lift
professionalisation of the sector. more children out of poverty, giving them
• Deepen co-operation and shared the futures they deserve.
learnings between early years education
and the Department of Education This Government will:
Inspectorate. • Set an ambitious child poverty target
ensuring a focus on inequality.

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Programme for Government

• Retain the Child Poverty and Well-being Youth Services

Programme Office in the Department
of An Taoiseach to break down silos Youth work services play an essential role
between departments and drive delivery in improving outcomes for young people
of measures aimed at reducing child by providing safe spaces, support and new
poverty. opportunities.
• Work to increase funding and expand
the capacity and network of Family This Government will:
Resource Centres. • Implement the Young Ireland: National
• Explore ways to better support non- Policy Framework for Children and
profit, community and social enterprise Young People 2023-2028.
organisations. • Strengthen the Local Youth Club Grant
Scheme.
• Continue the rollout of the UBU – Your
Supporting Families Place Your Space Scheme.
• Support the work of Young Social
This Government will: Innovators to make the social innovation
• Explore the establishment of a managed space accessible to all young people,
savings account for newborns with an create new future pathways and allow
initial once-off contribution by the State, our youth to have their voices heard.
ensuring lower income families benefit
most from its inception.
• Expand the provision for newborns Support for Foster Carers and
and their parents of a Baby Bundle, Kinship Care
comprising essential items to support
them from day one. Foster carers play an essential role in
• Drive the early establishment of our care system, and we are committed
the Assisted Human Reproduction to developing and implementing a
Regulatory Authority, commit to comprehensive action plan that takes a
commencing the Health (Assisted cross-government approach to foster care.
Human Reproduction) Act 2024
and promptly enact supplementary This Government will:
legislation. • Increase the Foster Care Allowance
• Introduce paid surrogacy leave. and ensure increases in the new Initial
• Enhance support for breastfeeding Placement Payment.
with a government-wide strategy, • Examine pension provision for foster
funding for community initiatives, more carers to acknowledge their long-term
lactation consultants in hospitals and commitment and ensure valued support
communities, and increased support for after their fostering years.
voluntary breastfeeding groups. • Examine the Back-to-School Clothing
• Ensure the full implementation of the and Footwear Allowance eligibility
Zero Tolerance Strategy recognising the criteria to allow flexibility for foster
harm domestic, sexual and gender-based carers.
violence has on children and young • Improve support for kinship care to
people. enhance outcomes for kinship families.

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 Investing in our Future

Strengthening Tusla and protecting Online safety

children in State care
Growing up online offers our children
This Government will: endless opportunities to learn, engage and
• Support Tusla and ensure their structures play but it also presents serious risks which
are robust, responsive and capable of can have devasting consequences. We must
safeguarding every child in need. all work to make the internet a safe place for
• Update the Child Care Act, 1991. children to express themselves.
• Ensure Tusla is supported in recruiting
and retaining vital frontline staff and This Government will:
foster carers. • Support and fund Coimisiún na Meán in
• Increase training opportunities and enforcing the Online Safety Code.
support programmes for Tusla staff and • Work with Coimisiún na Meán to inform
carers to enhance service quality. children, young people, and their parents
• Work with further and higher education about their rights online under the new
institutions to increase the supply of safety framework.
graduates and allied health professionals, • Examine ways to enforce age verification
such as social care workers. obligations on online service providers
• Develop a national plan on alternative and hold them to account for failure to
care to include a short-term action plan do so.
addressing current issues in accessing • Work with stakeholders to tackle the use
appropriate care places, and a longer- of recommender algorithms to protect
term vision for how the care system will children from harmful content.
operate into the future. • Continue to provide funding and support
• Expand Barnahus nationally and to Hotline in its role and commence
strengthen measures aimed at • an appropriate advertising campaign to
preventing violence against children. advise the public of the existence of this
• Ensure effective and mandatory co- reporting channel.
operation between state agencies by • Act on the Online Health Taskforce’s
putting the inter-agency committee recommendations to improve digital
on vulnerable children on a statutory well-being.
footing. • Work to deliver a new EU Child Sexual
• Examine ways to further support all Abuse Directive that protects children
young people as they age out of state and young people and holds digital
care and foster care. platforms to account.
• Establish a National Child Death Review • Support and fund Online Safety
Mechanism on a statutory basis. Programmes for schools, giving them
more flexibility in how to use it.

Recognising and learning for our

past

This Government will:

• Continue to deliver the Action Plan for
Mother and Baby Homes Survivors.
• Build the National Centre for Research
and Remembrance.

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Programme for Government

numeracy.
• Invest in ICT and the development

Education of appropriate digital skills in our

schools, and embed ICT and coding
in the curriculum, so that children and
Education is at the heart of all of our young people have the skills necessary
ambitions as a country. Excellent and to stay safe in a digital world, whilst
innovative education and training are also developing the skills necessary to
essential to delivering a fair society and a contribute to a thriving digital industry
strong economy. and economy.
• Increase the take-up of foreign
This Government will: languages in our schools and expand the
• Deliver a learning experience for teaching of modern foreign languages in
students to highest international primary schools.
standards. • Continue to implement the SPHE/RSE
• Use education to break down barriers for curricula and provide resources and
groups at risk of exclusion. training for their effective delivery.
• Equip learners of all ages and abilities to • Seek to increase choice for parents by
participate and succeed in a changing ensuring that families can access both
world. non-denominational and faith-based
• Support Ireland to be a leader across a education.
broad range of fields, including scientific, • Hold a convention bringing together all
cultural, enterprise and public service. stakeholders in education.
• Support students and all those who work • Expand the Active School Flag to a
in the education sector. greater number of schools, especially
secondary schools, through continued
funding support.
A world class Education System • Expand the School Transport Service to
include 100,000 additional students by
We will seek to continually improve our 2030 and
education system to equip students with * Implement the terms of the School
the skills they require to succeed in a rapidly Transport Review to reduce distance
changing world. Ireland has one of the criteria and expand eligibility
strongest education systems in the world, as * Ensure better management of
evidenced by our high rankings in all forms applications system and timely
of student achievement. Our economy and communication to parents and
society benefit hugely from the high quality families
education that is available to all citizens, * Carry out an independent assessment
and we must always demonstrate greater on the feasibility of removing the
ambition for our sector. exclusion of drivers aged over 70
from the School Transport Scheme
This Government will: * Explore flexible work options to
• Continue the programme of reform of attract more drivers including women.
Senior Cycle to ensure that students * Ensure the financial sustainability of
benefit from up-to-date curricula, the scheme.
more diverse skills development and • Introduce new Music Education Hubs
assessments, and reduced stress levels. so that more students can benefit from
• Focus on actions to improve literacy and structured and ongoing instruction in
music.
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 Investing in our Future

• Expand opportunities for students to administrative supports.

attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. • Establish a fund for schools to
• Expand the highly successful BLAST and support new initiatives and encourage
Creative Schools Programmes. collaboration between clusters of
• Work towards aligning Irish language schools, fostering creativity and shared
curriculums with the Common European learning.
Framework of Reference to enhance • Roll out nationwide common application
spoken Irish at primary, post-primary and systems to reduce stress on parents and
third levels. students during application periods.
• Develop a new curriculum for Irish Sign • Increase funding supports for student
Language for primary and post-primary teachers, working to increase diversity
students up to Leaving Certificate level. within the profession and with a view to
• Continue to increase the number of increasing supply.
schools offering Physical Education as a • Expand the provision of after-school
Leaving Certificate exam subject. and childcare in school buildings and
campuses, in tandem with the school
building programme, to provide better
Supporting Schools access for parents and communities.
• Develop a workforce plan for the
We are fortunate in Ireland to have some education sector to ensure that we
of the best schools in the world, supported continue to attract, retain and return
by excellent staff and voluntary boards of people into the sector and that the
management. These schools provide a rich, appropriate conditions and supports
nurturing and supportive environment in exist to ensure that they meet the needs
which students can learn and grow. We of children and young people, society
want to support this work by ensuring and the economy over the coming
that schools are adequately funded and decades.
supported to achieve their ambitions. • Conduct a review of leadership and
continuous professional development
This Government will: supports to ensure that school
• Increase capitation funding to schools management structures are adequately
of all types to ensure that schools can equipped to manage changes to the
meet the elevated day-to-day running education system.
costs and reduce the financial burden on • Improve teaching and learning methods,
families. especially as schools adapt to digital
• Aim to reduce the general Pupil Teacher learning and the opportunities presented
Ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the by artificial intelligence.
term of government and introduce
targeted measures in schools with very
large classes. Investing in School Buildings
• Trial new administrative supports and
arrangements for principals and boards Schools are more than their physical
of management to reduce the non- buildings, but there is no doubt that modern
educational aspect of their workloads. and fit-for-purpose facilities are beneficial
• Introduce a new national Small for teaching and learning. We will increase
Schools Project for all 1,300 small funding for school buildings.
primary schools to protect these
school communities and develop new This Government will:

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Programme for Government

• Continue to strengthen forward planning of educational disadvantage to improve

within the Department of Education in educational outcomes, particularly in
collaboration with local stakeholders literacy and numeracy.
to identify future needs and to ensure • Expand and strengthen measures to
provision of school places keeps apace address the problems which exist with
with delivery of local housing and school attendance, including examining
population growth. how youth services can partner with
• Support the School Building Unit in the formal education system to improve
the timely delivery of school building engagement with young people.
projects. • Expand the Home School Liaison Co-
• Ensure, through the NDP process, that ordinator Scheme with new posts for
adequate funding is available for new schools demonstrating high need.
school places in areas of demographic • Implement a range of recommendations
growth, new special education from the recent Report on the Review
provision, essential refurbishment and of Out-of-School Education Provision to
maintenance, ICT and digital and climate support school completion.
action. • Expand the Junior Certificate School
• Increase the Minor Works Scheme Programme School Library Programme
payment and ensure it is paid on an to include additional schools.
annual basis. • Enhance guidance services in schools to
• Ensure that the Summer Works Scheme ensure that all students have access to
operates every year to ensure good high-quality guidance.
maintenance of school buildings. • Continue to expand and improve the
• Prioritise the development of Physical Free Hot School Meals programme and
Education halls and sporting facilities ensure that suppliers adhere to robust
(including yards and play areas) for guidelines on the nutritional value of
schools in conjunction with the Sports meals, the dietary requirements of
Capital Fund to deliver for both schools students, reduce food waste and utilise
and communities. recyclable packaging.
• Drive the implementation of the new • Provide free schoolbooks to all children
guidelines for schools to open up their in the free education system and
facilities to communities outside of introduce changes as needed to the
school hours. operation of this scheme.
• Promote the expansion of the Transition
Year Programme and address the
Ensuring our education system barriers that might prevent take-up by
works for all students.
• Promote uniform swap shops in all
Education should be inclusive of all primary schools, making uniforms more
students, recognising that particular affordable and supporting sustainability.
students may need particular supports. We • Provide more Community Link Workers
will continue our work to tackle all forms to schools to support Traveller and
of disadvantage in education and promote Roma students and their progression in
inclusivity. education.
• Review and enhance educational
This Government will: supports for Traveller and Roma
• Establish a new DEIS Plus Scheme to students.
support schools with the highest level • Pilot Wellness Initiatives in high-need

68
 Investing in our Future

areas to develop new models of best Teachers and Special Needs Assistants to
practice. provide greater support to students and
• Continue to support and promote schools.
the development of student councils • Create a dedicated National Therapy
in schools to give students a voice in Service in Education, beginning with
decision-making. special schools. To implement this
• Provide free period products in schools ambitious new programme and ensure
to ensure no student is held back due to a sufficient supply of therapists, this
period poverty. Government will:
* Double the number of college places
for speech and language therapists,
Supporting students with additional physiotherapists, occupational
educational needs therapists, educational psychologists
and any other specialists required.
It is vital that every student is supported * Create new expedited qualification
to reach their full potential, and that our routes for professionals with relevant
education system is fully inclusive of every skills and experience.
student. We will continue to build the * Examine the provision of funding
capacity of the education and disability supports for those seeking to upskill
sector to provide better services for children into therapy programmes.
and young people, and provide specialist * Provide therapy assistant posts within
services to those children and young people the education sector to maximise
who need it. therapists’ ability to deliver bespoke
therapy services.
This Government will: * Ensure that the model of therapy
• Continue to increase the number of provision allows children in SEN
special schools and special classes classes and mainstream to access
across the country to ensure that essential therapies, in addition to
children can go to school within their those in special schools.
local community. • Complete the review of the EPSEN Act
• We will streamline the delivery of and make sure that it meets the needs of
modular accommodation for special children with special educational needs.
classes and special schools so that it is in
place in advance of the school year. In addition;
• Promote the potential for special schools • Work with relevant stakeholders to
and clusters of mainstream schools collect data to create more targeted,
to work together innovatively to offer effective services for children with
high-quality inclusive and integrated special needs.
education, and support the co-location • Expand access for teachers to undertake
of special schools with mainstream professional development in special
schools. education provisions, particularly when
• Introduce a new common application opening new special classes, and in using
system for children applying to special therapies.
schools and classes to make it a more • Improve supports for students with
straightforward experience for parents. special educational needs who are
• Work to standardise admissions transitioning to new stages of school
timelines across schools. e.g. pre-school to primary, improve data
• Hire additional Special Education sharing between schools and provide

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Programme for Government

career guidance in special schools. their students to meet the challenges of

• Make special education modules and today head on and to thrive.
placements in special schools or classes
a universal part of initial teacher training, This Government will:
which will be subject to assessment. • Work with school leaders to ensure
• Continue to expand the free-of-charge schools are smartphone-free zones to
Summer Programme for students with protect student wellbeing and learning.
special educational needs, particularly • Review the mental health and wellbeing
the in-school provision of the pilots that are ongoing in primary and
programme. post-primary schools and expand them.
• Expand Early Intervention Classes where • Ensure the implementation of the
appropriate and ensure that children actions in the Zero Tolerance Strategy
have access to supports at the earliest on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based
possible stage. Violence.
• Reform the Drumcondra Tests which • Implement and monitor the roll-out of
are used to gauge student learning to the Behaviours of Concern guidelines to
include assessments for dyslexia. ensure the needs of children with special
• Introduce a specific programme to educational needs are met.
support students with exceptional • Expand the FUSE anti-bullying
abilities. programme to reach more students and
• Develop an appropriate mechanism schools.
to allow additional time for students • Promote digital literacy and online safety
with specific needs and in certain education in schools, especially through
circumstances and also ensure that those Webwise in collaboration with Coimisiún
who use assistive technology can do so na Meán and other organisations to
in State examinations. ensure children understand online safety
• Seek to ensure every school for the risks and increase supports against
deaf has qualified Irish Sign Language bullying, online abuse and expanding
interpreters, enabling full participation in counselling resources.
education for deaf and hard of hearing • Continue to implement digital literacy
students. and online safety education in schools
• Complete the SNA workforce and launch public awareness campaigns
development programme, providing to educate and support parents.
clarity on their role and career paths. • Introduce a holistic wellness programme
• Engage with schools who are on the that addresses urgent health and social
AERS independent list on practical issues facing young people today
matters that relate to the educational including:
needs and welfare of children, such as
special needs inclusion, NEPS, NCSE, * A Comprehensive Wellness Approach,
Tusla, teacher training and other matters focusing on physical activity, nutrition,
as might be pertinent. emotional wellbeing, and positive
social behaviour in schools, promoting
at least 60 minutes of physical activity
Safer, healthier children throughout the full day for children of
all abilities.
The wellbeing of children and young people
is paramount, and we must ensure that
schools receive adequate supports to help

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 Investing in our Future

* Mandate the Local Sports knowledge and talent has been the pillar
Partnerships to collaborate with of our economic strategy. The knowledge
schools to promote inter-school economy remains key to our international
competitions, sports festivals, and competitiveness. Ongoing investment in
collaboration with parents, local further and higher education is core to our
sports clubs, and national sporting ambition of delivering sustainable economic
organisations to create a dynamic, growth. The Government will ensure that
inclusive approach to physical activity. this investment also offers opportunity to
everyone, while remaining agile to address
the key skill challenges faced by our country
Support Survivors of Historical as well as new and emerging technology
Abuse and work practices.

This Government will: A well-resourced further and higher

• Complete the passage of legislation to education sector is essential not only to
provide supports to survivors of abuse in develop the talent for our economy, but to
industrial schools and reformatories. support local communities as employers and
• Cognisant of the experience of survivors in nurturing cultural and sporting activities.
of historical abuse and in line with their
wishes as per the scoping inquiry of This Government will:
Mary O’Toole SC we will as a priority • Close the core funding gap by unlocking
establish and support the work of a the National Training Fund.
Commission of Investigation as agreed • Develop a borrowing framework for
by Cabinet in September 2024. technological universities and ensure
a clear pathway for Technological
Universities to access capital funding
for initiatives including student
accommodation.
• Support universities to meet their carbon
reduction targets under their Climate

Further Action Plans.

• Continue to support the Technological

and Higher Sector Advancement Fund.

• Ensure that where a higher education

Education, institution operates across multiple

campuses in a region, that there

Research, is balanced senior management

representation based across the

Innovation and campuses.

Science Increase access to Further and

Higher Education
A cornerstone of our economic success
story has been the availability of a Fair and equal access to quality further
highly skilled and talented workforce. and higher education regardless of socio-
Since Ireland embraced FDI and enabled economic status, ability or geographical
access to second-level education for all, location will be a hallmark of this

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Programme for Government

Government’s approach to the Further and Improve supports for students

Higher Education sector.
Access and inclusion will be at the heart
This Government will: of everything we will do, breaking down
• Provide more further education and barriers to ensure everyone is provided with
training places nationally. opportunities to reach their potential.
• Continue to reduce the Student
Contribution Fee over the lifetime of the This Government will:
Government to ease the financial burden • Introduce a ‘Second Chance’ to ensure
on students and families at the start students going through a ’repeat year’ or
of each academic year, in a financially changing courses on one occasion can
sustainable manner. access the Free Fees Initiative to avoid
• Increase maintenance grants and them being penalised and having to pay
reform SUSI to better meet the needs of higher rates of fees.
students. • Continue to support students
• Examine the introduction of a placement experiencing mental health and
grant for students on mandatory wellbeing challenges.
placements. • Continue to rollout active consent
• Continue to implement a Colleges of workshops.
the Future programme, allowing young • Examine the continuation of fee supports
people to access high-level education where there is a clear continuation of
close to home. a student’s original primary degree to
• Continue to invest in the Student an advanced qualification in the same
Assistance Fund. discipline.
• Increase financial support to • Support students with disabilities to
postgraduate students particularly in have a clear path into employment,
areas of critical skills shortages. avoiding any barriers to entering the
• Expand free part-time courses to assist workforce.
more people to gain or enhance their • Expand the Programme for Access
qualifications. to Higher Education (Path 4) courses
• Increase the number of third-level to ensure equity of access to further
pathways outside the Leaving Certificate education.
points system and introduce a single • Examine the provision of the Personal
application process for apprenticeships, Assistants Initiative for persons with
further and higher education. a disability in third level institutions to
• Work with the sector to reform the CAO ensure consistency.
system to ensure that young people are • Create a website to provide students
best served by it. across Ireland with comprehensive
• Seek to increase the percentage of information on third-level pathways,
students receiving their preferred supporting students on an all-Ireland
choices. basis.
• Review the financial supports available • Support universities in adopting a
to adult learners and promote access to trauma-informed practices to handle
education and lifelong learning. discrimination and violence, introduce
targeted reporting systems, and provide
funding to support victims and survivors.

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 Investing in our Future

Boosting Skills and Apprenticeships Achieving excellence in Research,

Innovation and Science
By focusing on apprenticeships and
skills, this Government will boost the Research and innovation are key drivers of
opportunities available to young people, economic progress, but also essential to
achieve important social goals and meet key improving our health and social wellbeing.
targets, particularly in housing and climate Ireland must remain a location of choice to
action. realise our ambitions.

This Government will: This Government will:

• Expand the CAO system to include more • Increase funding for research which
apprenticeship options. adds value to our economy, grows future
• Expand the skills categories that can job opportunities, and strengthens our
avail of the National Training Fund to competitiveness.
include sectors such as healthcare and • Continue to fund Taighde Éireann to
education. maintain Ireland’s global competitiveness
• Grow apprenticeship registrations to at and stimulate growth across regions,
least 12,500 by 2030, and develop and promote and fund outstanding Irish
launch a new 5-year Apprenticeship research and innovation at home, in
Action Plan for 2026-2030 to set a Europe, and globally.
strategic vision for the sector and • Ensure that distinct funding programmes
expand the skills categories. for research in the Humanities and Social
• Work with the National Skills Council to Sciences are maintained.
update apprenticeship curriculums to • Encourage greater STEM uptake in
meet today’s industry standards. further and higher education.
• Ensure new courses in Green Skills • Increase supports available to PhD
supporting Ireland’s transition to a green or early post-doctoral students to
economy and establish industry centres encourage emerging researchers.
of retrofitting excellence nationwide. • Publish annual details of research
• Double the number of places in high- funding to improve transparency.
demand healthcare professions, • Foster closer collaboration between
such as speech and language educational institutions and industry,
therapists, occupational therapists and formalising postdoctoral employment
physiotherapists. structures and funding graduate research
• Ensure the Apprenticeship Employer programmes to sustain economic
Grant maximises the number of people growth.
starting and completing apprenticeships. • Work with industry and higher education
• Maintain the Gender Based Bursary institutes to provide expanded
and bursary funding to encourage programmes of short and micro
participation from underrepresented credential courses to upskill/reskill our
groups in apprenticeships. pool of talented people for future jobs.
• Continue to invest in the National • Expand EU Research and Innovation
Construction Training Centre at Mount Partnerships with small and medium
Lucas, Co. Offaly, to address future sized businesses.
demands for construction skills. • Maximise Horizon Europe engagement.
• Support groundbreaking research
that bridges academia, industry, and
government, leveraging Ireland’s tertiary
sector expertise.
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Programme for Government

• Promote inclusive research by ensuring Invest in Student Accommodation

institutions have the necessary supports
for faculty and researchers with Affordable student accommodation is an
disabilities. essential part of the social infrastructure
• Establish a formal pathway for third-level of higher education institutions and its
researchers to inform government policy availability can have a significant impact on
on critical issues based on internationally the lives of students and the communities
recognised research. in which they are located. It is of particular
• Enable the transformation of importance to students who do not have
Technological Universities to more the means to access higher education, or
comprehensively deliver on the skills students who need to be away from home
and innovation by introducing new to access greater opportunities.
academic career paths, contracts and
professorships in TUs. This Government will:
• Strengthen all-island collaborations and • Develop a multi-annual plan to urgently
continue to support the North-South deliver new student accommodation,
Research Programme through the including through state financed
Shared Island Fund. purpose-built student accommodation
• Continue to support the role of the on public or private lands.
Government Science Advisor. • Enable Technological Universities to
• Promote greater international researcher borrow funds to provide for on-campus
mobility. student accommodation.
• Scale up exchange programmes and • Examine measures to boost the take-up
secondments between academia and of the Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme.
Government, to enhance policymaking. • Ensure student accommodation leases
• Ensure discovery research and align with the academic year, making
pioneering analysis is supported and it easier for students to secure housing
facilitated without funding being tied only for the months they need.
to commercial outcomes or immediate
breakthroughs.
• Examine a new funding stream for bricks
and mortar facilities e.g. laboratories and
libraries along the lines of the former
Programme for Research in Third-Level

•
Institutions.
Encourage academic and research Transport
involvement in public life and in
contributing to the solution of societal As an island nation with a dispersed
challenges such as healthcare, housing population and an open economy, good
and infrastructure. connectivity within the country and
• Continue to progress membership of with the rest of the world is essential to
CERN, ESA and other international foster continued economic growth, for
collaborations communities, and our tourism industry.

By investing in diverse transport options—

public transport, active travel, roads,
maritime, and aviation—we will enhance
connectivity across urban and rural areas,

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 Investing in our Future

giving people more choice and supporting tailored transport strategy including
sustainable growth. frequent bus services and light rail where
appropriate.
Given our geographical location at the • Work collaboratively to act on the
periphery of Europe, Ireland is critically recommendations from the All-Island
dependent on air and maritime connectivity. Strategic Rail Review to improve
The Government recognises the importance connectivity across the island of Ireland.
of these sectors and is committed to • Develop additional track capacity,
creating an environment which will electrification, increased line speeds and
increase connectivity with our continental new routes to enhance and develop rail
neighbours and international trading services.
partners to support the supply chain and • Examine the further expansion of free
foster trade, investment, outward travel and public transport for children.
the expansion of our tourism industry. • Roll out contactless fare payments on all
public transport and keep fares low and
affordable.
Developing a strategic public • Upgrade real-time tracking of services,
transport network including via TFI app, for accurate
updates on when next service is due
This Government will: with timely notification of any delays,
• Ensure the newly re-focussed cancellations or outages.
Department of Public Expenditure, • Commission an independent feasibility
Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and study into continuing MetroLink from the
Digitalisation streamlines the delivery of city to South West Dublin.
major transport projects, from planning • As part of the NDP review, examine
to execution. further investment in light rail for our
• Provide extra funding for the cities.
improvement of transport networks • Develop sustainable transport options in
countrywide to promote increased the growing commuter belt.
business investment in the economy and • Expand feeder/shuttle bus services to
the supply of new housing. commuter stations from surrounding
• Review and enhance the NDP funding towns and villages.
envelope to deliver on existing, • Create a Transport Security Force under
strategically important transport the National Transport Authority, which
infrastructure commitments, and meet would operate and have similar powers
the funding needs of new or accelerated to the Airport Police and Customs
potential projects and programmes. officers.
• Progress all key public transport • Ensure that public transport operators
infrastructure in the National provide safe and accessible access for all
Development Plan and consider new passengers.
public transport projects in the review of • Identify, research and coordinate delivery
the NDP. of behavioural change initiatives to
• Focus on linking new housing support modal shift and reduce car
developments to public transport and dependency, focusing on wider societal
schools through Transport Oriented benefits of the change.
Development, ensuring easy access for • Develop a sustainable funding model for
residents and visitors. PSO services into the future.
• Ensure each metropolitan area has a

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Programme for Government

Enhancing Rail Infrastructure Supporting Taxis and Local

Transport options
This Government will:
• Work collaboratively to act on the This Government will:
recommendations from the All-Island • Collaborate with the National Transport
Strategic Rail Review to improve Authority (NTA) to improve local taxi
connectivity across the island of Ireland. service provision.
• Fully commit to existing projects in the • Mandate the NTA to run a number of
National Development Plan and, as part pilots enabling ride-sharing platforms to
of the NDP review, develop additional operate to improve rural connectivity.
track capacity, electrification, increased • Extend the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis
line speeds and new routes to enhance registered in 2015, offering another year
and develop commuter and intercity rail of service.
services. • Continue the scrappage scheme to help
• Work with the National Transport taxi and hackney drivers replace older
Authority (NTA) to improve the vehicles with electric models, supporting
punctuality and reliability of inter-city a greener fleet.
and commuter rail services coming into • Support the expansion of the taxi fleet.
Dublin city and grow additional capacity. • Task the NTA with undertaking a
• Increase funding for the protection and review of the area knowledge module
renewal of the rail network through of the Small Public Service Vehicle
agreeing a new five-year Infrastructure (SPSV) Driver Entry test and make
Manager Multi-Annual Contract in 2025. recommendations as appropriate.
• Work with the NTA to allow flexible pick-
ups on Local Link and other bus routes
Improving bus services in rural communities, as appropriate,
enhancing service accessibility.
This Government will: • Work to integrate Local Link transport
• Expand bus services in cities and routes with health services to improve
continue to strengthen local urban access for individuals seeking care.
transport in towns. • Develop sustainable transport options in
• Ensure Bus Connects delivers promised the commuter belt, including provision
benefits for public transport users. of shuttle buses to train stations from
• Continue upgrading the bus fleet, surrounding towns and villages.
improving service reliability and comfort. • Work with local authorities and relevant
• Increase Local Link services in rural areas agencies to develop affordable Park and
to better connect villages, towns, and Ride facilities on the outskirts of major
cities. towns and cities.
• Continue the roll-out of Connecting
Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and
investment in new town bus services. Active Travel
• Work to enhance and support the
delivery of a skilled workforce to This Government will:
maintain and operate public transport • Invest in dedicated infrastructure for
vehicles. walking and cycling, in consultation with
communities and people of all abilities
including older people and people with
disabilities, to promote active travel

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 Investing in our Future

across Ireland for those commuting or Roads investment

enjoying the countryside.
• Increase investment in greenways, The Government will invest in all
blueways and pedestrian-friendly road projects in the current National
infrastructure to encourage active travel Development Plan and consider additional
and develop urban trailways. important road projects as part of the NDP
• Expand the Safe Routes to School review.
initiative, in consultation with
communities and people of all abilities This Government will:
including the elderly and people with • Provide multi-annual funding clarity for
disabilities, making travel safer for young roads budgets so agencies can plan
people. accordingly.
• Provide a dedicated maintenance budget • Increase funding for new roads as part of
to each local authority to maintain active the NDP review and the maintenance of
travel infrastructure, including footpaths. existing roads.
• Establish mobility hubs in each local • Increase funding for the protection and
authority area, offering integrated renewal of the road network to address
transport services like bike and scooter maintenance backlogs.
sharing, EV charging, car sharing, and • Establish distinct budgets for road
carpooling. maintenance and new road construction
• Promote a universal design approach starting in 2025 to ensure sustained
in active travel projects to ensure investment in the network.
accessibility for everyone, including • Fund a matching road maintenance
people with disabilities, allowing more catch up programme for local authorities
community members to participate fully with poor pavement surface conditions
and independently. and utilise advanced imaging technology
• Review the structures and operation of to expedite repairs.
the NTA to strengthen their engagement • Continue to progress construction of
with local authorities, communities and the Narrow Water Bridge and support
stakeholders. the local authorities on both sides of the
• Ensure better collaboration by the bridge in developing the new tourism
NTA with local communities during opportunities it will bring.
consultation phases. • Improve connectivity with the
• Implement necessary changes to ensure Northwest by working with the Northern
local active travel projects are delivered Ireland Executive to deliver the A5
directly by Local Authorities through road upgrade. Further enhance road
direct funding from the Department of connectivity to and from the North-West.
Transport. • Provide additional funding for the Local
• Offer a bike scheme specifically for third Improvement Scheme and Community
level students, mirroring the bike-to- Involvement Schemes (CIS).
work scheme, and coordinate bike and • Progress the digital solution to replace
e-bike rental programmes across further the paper discs on vehicle windscreens.
and higher education campuses.

Road safety

The Government is committed to reducing

road deaths and creating safer roads for
everyone in Ireland.
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Programme for Government

This Government will: ongoing review of the Road Safety

• Support the implementation of Ireland’s Authority to strengthen overall road
Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, safety measures.
increase public awareness and crack • Enact the National Vehicle Driver File
down on dangerous driving. Bill to ensure Local Authorities have
• Increase the number of average speed access to relevant data on road traffic
and static speed cameras to curb collisions (to inform road improvements)
speeding and encourage safer driving. and to expand real time data access for
• Introduce new road safety cameras to An Garda Siochana to driver and vehicle
automatically detect mobile phone use information.
and non-wearing of seat belts. • Continue the work underway to
• Review a graduated penalty points consolidate the Road Traffic Acts
system. legislation.
• Enhance driver training and introduce re-
education courses as a judicial sanction
for those who commit road traffic Accelerating the transition to
offences. electric and sustainable transport
• Maximise the efficiency and effectiveness
of road safety enforcement and This Government will:
proceedings in court to include freeing • Work with local authorities and State
up Gardaí from the need to attend agencies to develop decarbonised
court for road traffic offences, digitising zones in our urban areas, focusing on
all relevant documents and ensuring pedestrianisation, cycling facilities,
that information is shared in real time and use of renewable energy across all
between the Courts Service, An Garda transport modes.
Siochána, the Department of Transport • Develop a new Sustainable Mobility
and other relevant agencies. Action Plan which promotes sustainable
• Invest in high-powered roads policing modes and transport-oriented
vehicles and continue to upgrade development to address congestion,
the Garda fleet to support effective improve air quality and reduce noise, and
enforcement. enhance attractiveness and accessibility
• Allow the public to upload dashcam of cities, neighbourhoods and town
footage of dangerous driving to a new centres.
Garda portal, making it easier to report • Develop a new National EV Infrastructure
incidents. Strategy which ensures EV charging
• Use ongoing data analysis and local is ahead of demand and in line with
knowledge to identify accident-prone EU mandated obligations, including
areas and focus road safety interventions neighbourhood charging for those who
where they are most needed. do not have access to home charging
• Invest in infrastructure improvements to and charging across the main transport
enhance road safety. arteries.
• Work to advance the development of • Continue to electrify the rail and bus
advanced safety system technology to fleets.
improve road safety (e.g. requirements • Substantially increase the number of
around drowsiness detection, blind spot publicly available EV charging points,
information systems, advanced braking ensuring better coverage nationwide,
systems). and reduce the average distance
• Consider recommendations from the between EV recharging points.

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 Investing in our Future

• Ensure Local Authorities allocate space decision of 2019.

for EV chargers in town plans and • Engage with all relevant stakeholders to
mandate new commercial carparks to establish air connectivity between Dublin
provide EV chargers. and Derry City airports.
• Launch a national EV recharging • Improve connectivity and public
infrastructure data strategy to enable transport to all airports.
real time data to be made available • Develop a National Sustainable Aviation
on mobile devices on the location and Fuel Policy Roadmap and support
availability of all EV charger locations Shannon Airport as a hub for testing new
across our road network aviation technologies.
• Examine the current EV grant system • Develop Air Cargo Infrastructure
and the introduction of additional and assess the feasibility of an all-
incentives with a view to increasing take- island (North-South) approach to
up of EVs and replacing older, polluting strengthening speed to market and
vehicles. competitiveness of indigenous and FDI
• Review customs duties on second-hand exporting firms.
EV imports to make EVs more affordable. • Finalise and publish a policy framework
• Consider grants for solar storage for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),
batteries to encourage EV ownership often known as drones, to guide high-
and allow users to store energy for level strategic planning and development
charging at optimal times. of the UAS sector in Ireland through
• Conduct a review of the Bike to Work supporting growth and innovation while
scheme to boost take-up among all ensuring safe and secure operations and
workers. addressing environmental and other
concerns.

Aviation
Maritime
This Government will:
• Work with stakeholders to achieve our This Government will:
objective of lifting the passenger cap at • Support investment in our commercial
Dublin airport as soon as possible. and passenger port infrastructure
• Ensure relevant agencies engage through a new National Ports Policy.
effectively with all communities • Work with ports to support investments
impacted by noise, flight movements and to facilitate offshore renewable energy
airport operations. development including constructing,
• Conduct a review of National Aviation maintaining and servicing renewable
Policy to maximise use of our airports in infrastructure, with a regionally balanced
the regions including Donegal, Ireland approach.
West (Knock), Shannon, Cork and Kerry. • Support our commercial state ports to
• Continue to invest in the Regional access funding streams.
Airports Programme and develop a new • Ensure our ports have the current and
Regional Airports Programme 2026- future capacity to meet the needs of a
2030. growing economy.
• Work with all stakeholders to quickly • Perform resilience testing on all ports
progress the Waterford Airport project and sea routes to ensure contingency
to lengthen and widen the runway, plans are in place.
building on the previous Government • Improve rail connectivity into our

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Programme for Government

strategic national ports for persons and • Extend the Wheelchair Accessible
freight. Vehicle Taxi Grant Scheme.
• Conclude and enact the Merchant • Progress the review of the Disabled
Shipping (Investigation of Marine Drivers Scheme.
Accidents) Bill 2024, which will facilitate • Work to reduce the 24-hour notice
the establishment of the Marine Accident requirement for disabled users of rail
Investigation Unit as well as providing for services.
the regulation of offshore service vessels, • Ensure all public transport operators
including offshore renewable energy provide safe and accessible access for all
service vessels. passengers.
• Progress the ILV Granuaile vessel
replacement programme with the
Commissioners of Irish Lights. Irish Coast Guard

This Government will:

Logistics and Road Haulage • Complete the roll out of the
Transformation Programme for the Irish
This Government will: Coast Guard, including an independent
• Support the sector to ensure the review of the role of the Coast Guard
efficiency of the supply chain and to volunteer.
maintain competitiveness. • Build on the recent enhancements to
• Support decarbonisation of road freight the IRCG’s Search and Rescue (SAR)
and commercial coaches with fuels such function provided for under the new
as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), SAR contract, which includes a fixed
hydrogen, and biomethane. wing element for the first time, to deliver
• Examine the taxation of HVO used enhanced search and rescue support for
for commercial freight to support our public, industry, and our coastal and
sustainable transport solutions. island communities in particular.
• Engage with EU to allow incentives for • Provide support to voluntary search and
lower emission fuels including biogas rescue organisations.
and HVO.
• Deliver on the Road Haulage Strategy
through 2031 to support a resilient
logistics network.

Supporting & enhancing transport

services for people with disabilities

This Government will:

• Expand the Travel Assistance Scheme
nationally.
• Develop a vehicle upgrade initiative for
disability service providers.
• Support localised and community door-
to-door services to connect people with
disabilities with community services and
employment.

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Society
Programme for Government

A Caring
Society

Building a service, ensuring that the workforce keeps

pace with population and demographic

Healthier Future changes.

This Government will:

• Recruit additional doctors, nurses,
Accessible, Affordable, and High- dentists, and health and social care
Quality Healthcare for All professionals, and reduce reliance on
contract and agency workers.
Through the ongoing implementation of • Consider measures to attract and retain
Sláintecare and sustained investment, staff in the health and social care sector.
reform, and leadership, this Government will We will also develop a new workforce
ensure access to high-quality patient care, plan to address immediate staffing
reduce waiting times and further cut the shortages and longer-term needs.
cost of accessing care. • Promote advanced practice roles for
health and social care professionals and
Having reviewed the recent two-year increase the number of Advanced Nurse
agreement, we will develop a multi-annual Practitioners.
funding approach for our health service, • Increase the number of healthcare
which will be linked to productivity, staff college places in nursing, medicine,
levels and the delivery of services for dentistry, pharmacy and health and
patients. social care professions (including
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and
This Government will foster collaboration speech and language therapy).
with Northern Ireland on healthcare, • Increase the number of public-only
research, training and education to achieve consultants.
improved health outcomes for everyone on • Establish a working group to examine
the island of Ireland. the potential for flexible and fair, defined
periods of service to the HSE for
healthcare graduates.
Our healthcare workforce • Establish an advanced leadership
training programme for managers and
This Government is committed to ensuring senior clinicians.
adequate and safe staffing across our health

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Delivering faster access to care This Government will:

• Resource the Paediatric Spinal Surgery
This Government is committed to delivering Management Unit.
faster access to care and to reducing • Coordinate spinal services across
waiting times. hospitals.
• Increase staffing and resources to ensure
This Government will: adequate surgical capacity.
• Further reduce waiting times, targeting • Use private capacity, both domestically
all patients to be seen within the and internationally, to support our public
Sláintecare target of 10 and 12 weeks. service.
• Increase capacity by between 4,000 and
4,500 new and refurbished inpatient
hospital beds across the country. Urgent and emergency care
• Increase ICU bed capacity by at least a
further 100 beds. This Government is committed to further
• Provide more community beds. reducing Emergency Department (ED)
• Build four new elective hospitals (Cork, overcrowding and enhancing urgent care
Dublin (2 sites) and Galway). services nationwide.
• Establish six surgical hubs in Cork,
Dublin (2 sites), Galway, Limerick and This Government will:
Waterford, and explore the provision of • Increase the number of consultants in
an additional surgical hub for the North- emergency medicine by a further 50%
West in a timely manner. and ensure more senior staff are rostered
• Open the National Children’s Hospital. in emergency departments during
• Continue the transition to regular weekends and public holidays for better
hospital care being available to patients decision-making.
7 days a week. • Ensure patients have more access to
• Ensure greater access to diagnostics in diagnostics in the evenings and at
the evenings and weekends. weekends.
• Ensure even more routine healthcare • Continue to review capacity in
services are available in the evenings and emergency departments.
weekends. • Expand trauma services, including
• Allow more health professionals to make facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
direct referrals to specialist services or • Standardise the opening hours of Injury
tests. Units to ensure a consistent 7-day
• Continue to fund the National Treatment service from 8am to 8pm and open at
Purchase Fund. least an additional 12 Injury Units.
• Develop a network of Rapid Outpatient
Clinics.
Paediatric spinal surgery • Continue to roll-out virtual wards and
introduce virtual urgent care, based on
This Government is committed to the model successfully introduced in
maintaining the Paediatric Spinal Surgery Australia.
Management Unit and ensuring ongoing • Invest in our ambulance service and
improvements in paediatric orthopaedic continue the development of new
services to ensure that children with ambulance stations and paramedic
scoliosis and spina bifida are treated quickly education and training facilities.
and safely. • Support and expand the Pathfinder

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Programme for Government

ambulance service. students for careers in rural and remote

• Commit to advancing the full medicine, ensuring those in under-served
implementation of the recommendations areas have access to skilled healthcare
of the HSE/Dublin City Council Joint professionals.
Ambulance Service Delivery, Task and
Finish Group.
• Continue to increase capacity and Cutting costs for patients
open more beds at UHL and across the
Midwest and take account of the HIQA This Government is committed to making
recommendations. healthcare more affordable and will build on
• Act on the final report of the National the significant work done to achieve this.
Taskforce on the Non-Consultant
Hospital Doctor (NCHD) Workforce. This Government will:
• Expand free GP services to children up
to at least 12 years, and keep its further
Supporting General Practice extension under review.
• Consider further reductions in the Drugs
This Government is committed to Payment Scheme.
supporting General Practice. • Explore further ways to reduce hospital
car parking charges.
This Government will: • Continue to extend access to free
• Publish the Strategic Review of General contraception.
Practice, and bring forward a new, • Seek to further increase medical card
modern GP contract. income limits.
• Examine the possibility of expanding the • Ensure that the planned rollout of free
Structured Chronic Disease Management HRT medicines is available at no cost for
Programme to include more conditions the drug/product.
and seek to provide access to more
adults with these conditions.
• Ensure full national coverage for GP On Community care and pharmacy
Call. services
• Increase the number of GPs through a
combination of international recruitment This Government is committed to ensuring
and increased training places. people can access as much care as possible
• Provide additional supports for GP in their home and in their community.
practices in rural areas and areas of
increased need. This Government will:
• Provide targeted supports for newly • Open more primary care centres and
qualified GPs and to GP practices that expedite the delivery of the existing
take on newly qualified GPs. pipeline to construction.
• Explore the recruitment of HSE- • Continue to expand our enhanced
employed GPs. community care teams.
• Expand the GP Access to Community • Appoint a Chief Pharmacist within the
Diagnostics Scheme. Department of Health.
• Introduce a tuition fee support scheme • Further expand the services provided by
for Graduate Entry Medicine. pharmacists and introduce a Common
• Provide more graduate entry medicine Conditions Service.
programmes focused on preparing • Streamline community pharmacy HSE

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 A Caring Society

reimbursement procedures. • Fund universal access to hairpieces,

• Review the pharmacy fee structure. post-mastectomy products and
• Support pharmacists to adopt a specialised bras.
proactive approach to managing • Ban the sale of tobacco products to
medicine shortages. people under the age of 21.
• Increase the number of clinical trials,
with a strong focus on cancer drugs.
Cancer care • Increase supports for cancer survivors
and continue to invest in community
This Government is committed to enhancing cancer support services.
cancer care in Ireland, ensuring better • Expand the Acute Haematology
prevention, timely access to treatment, and Oncology nursing service.
improved quality of life for patients and • Expand the Acute Oncology Service
survivors. and facilities for people being treated
for cancer, ensuring they do not have
This Government will: to go through the general emergency
• Allocate ringfenced funding to cancer department.
services. • Develop a skin cancer awareness
• Actively promote the increased uptake campaign.
of all screening programmes • Explore ways to ban commercial sunbed
• Extend the BowelScreen cancer use.
screening programme.
• Extend the ages for BreastCheck
screening programme in line with Women’s health
updated standards from HIQA.
• Evaluate the current lung cancer This Government is committed to further
screening pilot in line with WHO criteria developing the transformation in women’s
and develop recommendations for a way healthcare.
forward.
• Undertake a review of European This Government will:
screening and early detection • Provide a comprehensive women’s health
programmes including for prostate and programme in general practice including
gastric cancers, to guide any further advice on contraception, sexually
expansion of screening programmes. transmitted infections, screening, fertility
• Implement Ireland’s Roadmap to Cervical and pre-conception and support for
Cancer Elimination. women experiencing menopause.
• Extend the Laura Brennan HPV Catch-up • Build the new National Maternity
Vaccination programme to anyone under Hospital.
25 who missed it. • Ensure that all maternity hospitals
• Protect diagnostic pathways and invest provide equitable access to termination
in infrastructure and equipment to meet of pregnancy services.
target treatment times outlined in the • Complete the national network of
National Cancer Strategy. twenty-one same day, see and treat
• Continue to invest in local cancer gynaecology clinics.
support groups. • Continue to expand specialist services in
• Implement the Model of Care for Psycho- endometriosis.
Oncology for patients up to 24 years of • Increase our network of menopause
age. clinics and develop a model of care for

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menopause. health initiatives targeting men, and the

• Develop a plan to make free period implementation of strategies aimed at
products accessible in more locations. reducing suicide and self-harm among
• Expand eligibility to State-funded IVF. men.
• Establish the new AHR Regulatory
Authority to support Assisted Human
Reproduction and establish our first Public Health
public Assisted Human Reproduction
treatment centre. This Government has a steadfast
• Develop a successor to the National commitment to improving public health.
Maternity Strategy.
• Invest in additional supports for This Government will:
breastfeeding. • Introduce wide ranging restrictions on
• Examine the introduction of free pelvic vaping, including packaging, flavours,
floor physical therapy sessions for point of sale advertising and a ban on
women after childbirth. disposable vapes.
• Require hospitals to improve their • Explore restrictions on the sale of high-
environments, spaces and supports caffeine energy drinks, including a ban
within maternity services to better on their sale to children.
assist and support individuals dealing • Ensure that children are safe online and
with pregnancy loss or critical neonatal implement the recommendations of the
illness. new Online Health Taskforce.
• Deliver the first inpatient mother and • Increase Public Health Nurse numbers
baby mental health unit. through a sponsorship scheme for nurses
training in public health.
• Develop a comprehensive strategy to
Men’s health combat the harms related to social
media.
This Government is committed to advancing • Expand the RSV immunisation
men’s health in tandem with the investment programme.
and progress seen in women’s healthcare. • Ensure the administration of dermal
fillers is only undertaken by trained
This Government will: healthcare professionals.
• Implement the Men’s Health Action Plan • Create a new Obesity Policy and Action
2024 – 2028 to increase health literacy Plan.
and raise public awareness of boys’ and • Publish the National Physical Activity
men’s physical, mental and emotional Framework and Action Plan.
health through a range of promotional • Place a greater focus on exercise
activities. and wellbeing as a preventative and
• Research, implement and evaluate rehabilitation measure, and examine
cancer prevention and early detection ways to support the provision of
initiatives including prostate cancer. community based clinical exercise
• Promote the uptake of the HPV vaccine programmes nationwide.
for young men and boys. • Continue to tackle harmful alcohol
• Fund research into the gender life consumption through effective
expectancy gap and implement regulations.
strategies to close this gap. • Continually review the number of
• Proactively support and expand mental conditions babies are screened for.

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• Continue to implement the • Building on the existing National

recommendations on the potential Cardiovascular Policy, we will develop a
expansion of the national immunisation new and more ambitious plan enhancing
programme. patient care and timely access across all
• Support the work of the Covid-19 Inquiry. regions.
• Keep under review the model of care for • Resource the National Strategy for
Long Covid, taking account of input from Accelerating Genetic and Genomic
patient representatives. Medicine.
• Work to fully staff Long and Post-Covid • Ensure a transgender healthcare service
clinics with appropriate healthcare that is based on clinical evidence,
professionals. respect, inclusiveness and compassion.
• Continue to engage with and support
thalidomide survivors.
Sexual health

This Government is committed to enhancing Dentists

sexual health services in Ireland.
This Government is committed to making
This Government will: dental services more accessible for
• Publish a new National Sexual Health everyone.
Strategy.
• Intensify our efforts by developing This Government will:
an action plan to eliminate new HIV • Implement Smile agus Sláinte.
transmissions by 2030 and provide • Hire more public dentists.
support for people living with HIV. • Agree a new Dental Treatment Service
• Increase the availability of Pre-Exposure Scheme for medical card holders.
Prophylaxis (PrEP) and reduce waiting • Expand access to the orthodontic
times for access to it. scheme for children and strengthen the
School Dental Programme.
• Update the Dentists Act 1985.
Healthcare strategies • Recognise and regulate more dental
specialities.
This Government is committed to improving
health outcomes based on strategies and
policies that will have a positive and long- Eye care
lasting impact on the well-being of Irish
society. This Government is committed to making
eye care services more accessible for
This Government will: everyone.
• Develop a National Rehabilitation
Strategy and consider the establishment This Government will:
an All-island Education Institute of • Review the National Clinical Programme
Rehabilitation. for Ophthalmology to ensure more eye
• Develop a new strategy for diabetes services are provided in the community.
care. • Review the Community Ophthalmic
• Publish and fund a new National Rare Services Medical Treatment Scheme
Disease Plan, improving access to orphan (COSMTS) to provide more medical
drugs. and minor surgical care to medical

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card patients outside of the acute care Benelux agreement, to leverage benefits
settings. similar to those achieved during the
Covid-19 vaccination programme.
• Invest and advocate for the development
Palliative care and accessibility of innovative and
breakthrough treatments for cancer, and
This Government is committed to enhancing other major diseases to improve patient
palliative care services to provide the best outcomes.
end-of-life and bereavement support for
patients, families and carers.
Patient safety
This Government will:
• Continue to invest in palliative care to This Government will:
achieve full national coverage of hospice • Prioritise the introduction of a court
and community services. supervised mediation-based process for
• Fund the National Adult Palliative Care managing neonatal brain injury medical
Policy. negligence cases.
• Develop a new national policy on • Consider the establishment of a
palliative care for children and increase dedicated medical negligence court.
funding to children’s hospice care. • Implement the recommendations of the
Report of the Interdepartmental Working
Group on the Rising Cost of Health-
Access to new medicines and Related Claims and make it easier and
treatments less stressful for patients when things go
wrong.
This Government is committed to ensuring • Require an annual review of neonatal
that patients have access to new innovative brain injuries between the State Claims
new medicines and treatments as quickly as Agency and maternity hospitals to
possible. determine and seek to reduce the
incidence of neonatal brain injuries.
This Government will: • Publish a national policy on adult
• Increase the number of clinical trials and safeguarding for the health and social
examine how better to support clinicians, care sector.
researchers, and support staff to focus • Introduce hospital-based patient
on clinical trial activities. advocates to assist parents caring for a
• Commit to a review of the drugs child with a disability or a new diagnosis
reimbursement process. to navigate the health service and
• Implement the Mazars Review provide information on accessing social
recommendations to ensure that protection income supports.
the end-to-end approval process is • Continue to support the Patient
effectively resourced to provide more Advocacy Service and the work of the
timely access to drugs. National Patient Safety Office (NPSO)
• Investigate new methods for earlier in overseeing a programme of patient
reimbursement of certain treatments, safety improvements and reforms.
including early access schemes for rare • Examine extending the Patient Advocacy
diseases. Service to support those accessing
• Work towards a more coordinated public mental health services.
approach at European level, akin to the • Continue to support the work of the

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Patient Advocacy Service for residents in The Government will:

long-term residential care. • Ensure full transparency in published
• Provide staff with training and support to data on hospital productivity and use of
foster an environment where patients are public funds.
listened to and recognised as the best • Publish regular reports on the
advocates for their own care, particularly implementation of the public-only
in maternity hospitals. consultant contract, including the
• Implement the recommendations from expansion of activity at evenings and the
the Clarke Report on Septicaemia, Safety weekends.
and Escalation protocols in all hospitals. • Ensure more routine healthcare services
are available in the evenings and at
weekends – continuing the transition to
A new era of innovation and digital regular hospital care being available to
transformation in health patients 7 days a week.
• Continue to support the work of the
This Government is committed to Savings and Productivity Taskforce.
embracing the advancements in science • Ensure greater use of diagnostic
and technology to improve patient access, equipment and operating theatres at
experience and health outcomes. evenings and weekends.

This Government will:

• Continue to work towards the full Drug use
digitisation of Irish healthcare records
and information systems. This Government is committed to a health-
• Launch a National Patient App, giving led approach to drug addiction.
patients easier access to their health
information. The Government will:
• Establish a national system for electronic • Assess the outcomes of the national
prescribing. drugs strategy, Reducing Harm,
• Develop an AI in Health strategy. Supporting Recovery 2017- 2025, and
• Promote greater use of remote health publish a successor strategy.
monitoring and virtual care solutions. • Divert those found in possession of
• Government will progress the drugs for personal use to health services.
implementation of the collaboration • Increase funding for drug addiction
agreement with the World Health services including local drug and alcohol
Organisation. This includes the delivery taskforces to improve their effectiveness.
of a Global Conference on Health • Launch a major awareness campaign of
Workforce Optimisation and Digital/ the impact of drugs on society.
Assistive Technologies EXPO. • Re-establish the Oireachtas Joint
Committee on Drugs Use.
• Explore the establishment of mobile
Productivity medically supervised injecting facilities in
areas of need.
This Government is committed to • Increase the availability of naloxone and
embedding productivity in patient care, to train relevant individuals on its use.
maximise the use of funding to ensure as
many patients as possible get fast access to
care.

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• Undertake a cross-departmental
examination of where disability spending
delivers best results, to inform future
funding.

Disability • Tackle waiting lists for specialist

disability services by implemention of
the Action Plan for Disability Services
This Government is committed to advancing 2024-6, and resourcing and delivering
the rights and improving the lives of on its targets. Develop and implement a
people with disabilities. We will prioritise follow on plan that builds capacity for a
the publication and fund a new National growing population.
Disability Strategy, setting out a vision to • Build capacity in primary care therapy
2030. We will adopt a whole-of-government services to support a broad range of
approach and advance the implementation children and adults with lower levels of
of the United Nations Convention on the complexity in line with the HSE’s Access
Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Policy.
Optional Protocol to the Convention of • Retain the Cabinet Committee on
Persons with Disabilities. There will also be Children, Disability and Education to
a National Implementation and Monitoring break down silos and ensure delivery.
Committee with enhanced political
oversight to ensure the delivery of the
Strategy. Helping children get the therapies
they need

Delivering a step change in disability We recognise that waiting lists for

services assessment of need are far too long and
have a significant impact on the needs of
The Government will: children and their families. This is driven
• Work in partnership with disabled people by many issues which the Government is
and their representative organisations in committed to addressing.
co-designing improvements to services
and prioritising what measures are most This Government will:
important to them. • Increase staffing, train more therapists
• Ensure children and their families who and prioritise children’s disability teams
need early intervention and therapy to deliver supports and services.
input can access that support in a timely • Support families who are waiting too
way by increasing staffing, training more long for an Assessment of Needs to
therapists, and prioritising children’s procure assessments privately.
disability teams to deliver supports and • Reform the Disability Act 2005 in
services. consultation with stakeholders.
• Increase investment in disability and • Create a dedicated National Therapy
capital infrastructure for the sector. Service in Education, beginning with
• After reviewing the recent two-year special schools.
healthcare funding agreement, we will • Complete the review of the EPSEN Act
consider the development of a multi- and make sure that it meets the needs of
annual approach for disability services, children with special educational needs.
which will be linked to productivity, staff • Increase the number of Regional
levels and the delivery of services. Assessment Hubs.

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• Establish an annual Children’s Therapies professionals with relevant skills and

Grant Fund to provide evidence-based experience.
therapies. • Examine the provision of funding
supports for those seeking to upskill into
therapy programmes.
Protecting people with disabilities • Examine the establishment of new
clinical support apprenticeship roles
This Government will: within the disability sector.
• Support the Decision Support Service
and review the operation of the Assisted
Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Education and employment
• Work with the Law Society to create a
solicitor’s portal to simplify enduring This Government will:
Power of Attorney applications. • Support students with a disability in
• Explore the establishment of a National transitioning through all educational
Safeguarding Body to ensure the health, settings and levels.
safety and welfare of vulnerable adults. • Support third level colleges and further
and higher education institutions to
support students with a disability, and to
Disability workforce provide specific courses for those with
an intellectual disability.
This Government will: • Expand and build on successful
• Consider measures to attract and retain programmes like WorkAbility,
staff in the disability sector. We will also Employability, and the new Work and
develop a new workforce plan to address Access Programme to support people
immediate staffing shortages and with disabilities into employment.
longer-term needs. • Promote training initiatives to raise
• Work with the voluntary sector through awareness and understanding of
industrial relations mechanisms and disabilities amongst Intreo staff.
other processes to progress pay issues • Examine ways to make it easier to regain
that affect the delivery of disability Disability Allowance if employment
services and the long-term viability of ceases.
organisations within the sector. • Strengthen supports in the deferred
• Double the number of college places referral approach for school leavers from
for speech and language therapists, special schools.
physiotherapists, occupational therapists,
dieticians, psychologists and social
workers. Independent living
• Engage with third level institutions
and the HSE/service providers to This Government will:
make assessed placements in special • Increase investment in adult day
education and disability courses a key services.
component in therapy and teacher • Increase personal assistance hours.
training. • Increase Disability Home Support hours,
• Recruit more therapists, therapy and work towards aligning Disability
assistants and allied health professionals. Home Support pay with rates for Older
• Examine the establishment of new Persons Services.
expedited qualification routes for • Continue to support the rollout of

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personalised budgets nationally. Supporting people with Autism

• Develop a multi-year capital plan
for investment in residential and This Government will:
independent living options for both • Implement the Autism Innovation
adults and children, while continuing to Strategy and ensure the development of
implement the Time to Move on from a successor strategy.
Congregated Settings Strategy. • Legislate to place an autism strategy on
• Promote shared services in independent a statutory footing.
living housing developments. • Co-develop initiatives for people with
• Continue to work to end the practice of autism to address service gaps at
placing young people with disabilities in different stages of life cycles.
nursing homes. • Expand the network of Autism one-stop-
• Provide a dedicated funding stream shops.
for assistive and digital technology, to • Create a pathway for assessment and
maximise independence and harness interventions for adults with autism.
efficiencies. • Continue to support initiatives that foster
• Support the rollout of JAM cards to inclusion of our neurodiverse community.
break down communication barriers. • Increase the Sensory Initiatives Grant
• Work to deliver the European Disability for communities to develop sensory
Card, ensuring rights of individuals are gardens, hubs and spaces.
recognised and upheld throughout
Europe.
Neurorehabilitation

Transport and mobility This Government will:

• Complete the national rollout of HSE
This Government will: Community Neuro-rehabilitation Teams.
• Expand the Travel Assistance Scheme • Develop more regional inpatient
nationally and examine the criteria for rehabilitation beds.
inclusion in the Scheme. • Implement community-based
• Develop a vehicle upgrade initiative for multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in
disability service providers. every Regional Health Area (RHA).
• Support localised and community door- • Increase the number of neurology nurse
to-door services to connect people with specialists.
disabilities with community services and • Increase the number of consultant
employment. neurologists.
• Extend the Wheelchair Accessible
Vehicle Taxi Grant Scheme and ensure
equality of access for providers. Respite services
• Progress the review of the Disabled
Drivers Scheme. This Government will:
• Work to reduce the 24-hour notice • Progressively increase funding for respite
requirement for disabled users of rail services, including the Home Support
services. Emergency Respite Scheme.
• Ensure all public transport operators • Continue to support and expand the
provide safe and accessible access for all network respite houses for children and
passengers. adults.
• Continue to support and offer alternative
respite.
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• Continue to support the voluntary and

community sector working in mental

Mental health •
health.
Maximise telehealth and virtual health
technologies.
This Government is committed to promoting
good mental health and ensuring access
to appropriate supports when and where Child and Youth mental health
people need them. We will fully implement
the national mental health policy, ‘Sharing This Government will:
the Vision’. • Legislate to regulate CAMHS.
• Continue to expand the central referral
A priority for this Government is the mechanism to simplify referrals to
enactment of the Mental Health Bill 2024, community paediatric services, including
the passage of which is essential to CAMHS, to ensure that no child is placed
modernise our mental health services. on the wrong waiting list.
• Continue to resource CAMHS teams to
reduce waiting lists.
Mental health workforce and • Establish targeted supports for children
infrastructure with autism experiencing mental health
challenges.
This Government will: • Develop a new care model for HSE
• Continue to recruit staff both nationally Primary Care Psychology to expedite
and internationally. services for young people with less
• Expand psychology assistant posts. complex issues.
• Expand the number of funded places in • Enhance youth mental health services
Clinical Psychology Doctorate training. for those up to age 25, focusing on
• Develop and implement a ten-year smoother transitions from CAMHS to
mental health refurbishment and adult mental health services.
investment infrastructure plan. • Increase staffing in under-18 dual
• Consider measures to attract and retain diagnosis services to better treat young
staff in Child and Adolescent Mental people with mental health and substance
Health Services (CAMHS), we will also abuse issues.
develop a new workforce plan to address • Continue to invest in waiting list
immediate staffing shortages and initiatives.
longer-term needs. • Launch the Youth Mental Health app
• Examine the establishment of new to support the mental health needs of
expedited qualification routes for young people.
professionals with relevant skills and
experience.
Eating disorders

Community based supports This Government will:

• Continue to grow and support eating
This Government will: disorder teams in line with the National
• Support local groups like Men’s Sheds, Clinical Programme.
Women’s Sheds and Active Retirement • Complete the review of the Model of
communities. Care for Eating Disorders.

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• Enhance provision for adult and youth • Invest in social programmes and
in-patient beds for eating disorders befriending services to address isolation.
geographically.
• Continue to expand the Clinical
Programmes including ADHD, Dual
Diagnosis, Early Intervention in
Psychosis.

Strengthen suicide prevention Older people

This Government will: Ireland was the first country to be
• Expand the Recovery Colleges initiative designated Age Friendly Status by the
nationwide. World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2019
• Continue the recruitment of suicide crisis and continuing this relationship, we will host
assessment nurses in our communities. the WHO Global Age Friendly International
• Continue to develop and fund out of Conference. We are committed to advancing
hours crisis services. our social care model which supports older
• Prioritise culturally appropriate mental people to live full and independent lives,
health supports for Traveller and other with the correct wraparound supports.
minority communities.
• Continue to expand the National Clinical Taking account of the work of the
Programme for Self-Harm and Suicidal Commission on Care, we will publish,
Ideation. resource, and implement a National Action
Plan that will:

Perinatal mental healthcare • Ensure long-term care is timely,

comprehensive, and affordable.
This Government will: • Examine and enhance the mix of
• Deliver the first in-patient Mother and professional care options, including
Baby Mental Health Unit. homecare, community-based care,
• Double the number of multidisciplinary independent living options and long-
teams for pregnant women. term residential care facilities.
• Increase the number of perinatal mental
health midwife posts.
• Proactively provide mental health Supporting older people to live at
supports through maternity hospitals home and in their own communities
following trauma events connected to
pregnancy and childbirth. This Government will:
• Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to
allow people to stay in their own home
Older people’s mental health for as long as possible.
• Increase home care hours.
This Government will: • Rollout the Care and Repair scheme
• Fund mental health supports across all nationally.
Integrated Care Programme for Older • Increase the Housing Adaptation Grant.
People (ICPOP) teams. • Increase funding for the national Meals
on Wheels network and develop a plan

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to ensure there are supported providers supports.

in every town in the country.
• Expand the Enhanced Community Care
Programme. Strengthen our nursing home sector
• Enhance our network of day centres.
• Continue to support Community This Government will:
Healthcare Networks. • Increase funding for the Fair Deal
• Increase support for carers – providing Scheme and ensure the waiting list does
training, establishing clearer pathways not exceed four weeks.
to services, and improving access to • Build more public nursing home beds.
respite. • Publish the NTPF review of pricing
• Fully fund the Carer’s Guarantee. systems in early 2025 and work towards
• Continue to implement the local Age an equitable funding model for the
Friendly Strategies enabling the voice of nursing home sector.
older people through the Older People’s • Provide a career pathway for healthcare
Councils. assistants.
• Continue to work with The Irish
Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) to
support ageing well in Ireland.
• Continue to support and enhance the
Go for Life national programme for sport
and physical activity for older people in
partnership with the HSE and the Local
Sports Partnerships. Equality and
Inclusion
Dementia supports
Advancing equality and inclusion is a whole
This Government will: of Government issue. Progress has been
• Work with the National Dementia made on several fronts, but challenges
Office and key stakeholders to develop persist. The Government will continue to
a National Dementia Registry to map drive progress and reform, ensuring Ireland
services, identity need and the delivery is an inclusive and accepting country.
of equitable access to services.
• Establish 20 new dementia-specific day
care centres. Empowering Women
• Include dementia specific provision
across all new Community Nursing Despite significant achievements in recent
Hospitals. years, there remains a gap between women
• Increase ringfenced home care hours, and men in terms of pay, representation in
and funding for Dementia Intensive sport, political and cultural life, participation
Home Care Packages. at the senior levels of the corporate and
• Double funding for dementia day care at state sectors and full participation in all
home. economic sectors.
• Double the number of dementia advisers.
• Rollout more Memory Assessment
Support Services teams.
• Rollout more early age dementia

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This Government will: • Implement the recommendations of the

• Publish and implement an updated review of the Gender Equality Action
National Strategy for Women and Girls. Plan for Higher Education.
• Develop a way to advance gender • Actively promote the inclusion of
budgeting. women and minorities in all political
• Encourage employers to publish roles, fostering a more diverse political
statistics of the take up, by both landscape.
genders, of parental leave and flexible • Establish maternity, paternity and
working. adoptive leave policies for all elected
• Support the Women in Finance initiative, representatives.
the Balance for Better Business and
other mechanisms to enhance the
number of women in executive and non- LGBTQI+
executive positions.
• Encourage mentorship opportunities in We are committed to improving the lives
both public and private sectors, aimed and protecting the rights of the LGBTQI+
at greater gender balance on company community in Ireland and globally.
and state boards and enhanced women’s Recognising the threat to LGBTQI+ people
leadership roles. in other jurisdictions, this government
• Back the Action Plan for Women in will continue the progress made for the
Business. community in Ireland following the Marriage
• Examine potential barriers for women Equality referendum.
farmers within the taxation system to
ensure greater inclusivity and fairness. This Government will:
• Implement, fully fund and expand • Implement the National LGBTI+ Inclusion
Enterprise Ireland’s Action Plan for Strategy which focuses on safety,
Women in Business and other venture health and well-being, participation
capital funding and ensure a specific and inclusion, equality and non-
focus on women in rural areas across all discrimination – including online.
regions. • Continue to improve investment in and
• Conduct an assessment of access to access to a range of health services
finance and financial services for women for LGBTQI+ people and provide for a
from minority groups. more inclusive health and social care
• Implement initiatives to promote the environment.
recruitment and retention of women • Ensure a gender healthcare service that
in the Defence Forces and An Garda is based on clinical evidence, respect,
Síochána, including to senior positions. inclusiveness and compassion.
• Increase funding and support towards • Advance legislation to ban conversion
female sports at both national and local practices.
levels, promoting the One Club Ethos. • Implement legislation to disregard
• Advance education, training and specific historical offences related to the
maintenance of new digital skills and criminalisation of homosexuality.
capacities, and particularly STEM • Actively advocate for the rights of
subjects, with a special focus on girls LGBTQI+ individuals both in Ireland and
(universal access to coding, maths and internationally.
ICT classes), through training and life- • Engage in discussions at key
long learning, and to prioritise diversity international forums, including the EU
and inclusion in STEM. and the UN, to uphold the universal

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nature of human rights, ensuring Inclusion Strategy.

that these rights apply equally to • Implement the Traveller and Roma
all individuals, regardless of gender Education Strategy.
identity, sexual orientation, or any other • Implement the National Traveller Health
characteristic. Action Plan.
• Take steps to advance financial literacy
and financial services inclusion for Irish
Combat racism and discrimination Traveller and Roma communities.

Through sustained and positive action

aimed at eliminating racism and promoting
inclusivity, we can better support those who
have been affected by discrimination, racism
and inequality.

This Government will: Social

• Examine the compensation limit for
claims made under the Equal Status Act Protection
2000.
• Support the local authorities Community The Social Protection system is the State’s
Engagement Teams. safety net designed to help people when
• Give effect to the International they need it most. The Government will
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance protect core welfare rates while ensuring
‘Working Definition of Antisemitism’ that available resources are targeted at
and implement the EU declaration on vulnerable groups who are unable to work
‘Fostering Jewish Life in Europe’. such as carers, people with disabilities and
• Continue to implement training pensioners.
programmes within our education
system to address racism and The Government will continue to implement
unconscious bias, fostering a more progressive reforms to our social welfare
inclusive environment for all students system and our policies will be guided by
and reducing susceptibility to extremist the core principles of sustainability and
views. fairness.
• Promote and fund intercultural events
and activities nationwide, celebrating At a time of full employment when many
diversity and encouraging understanding sectors are experiencing labour shortages,
among different communities. there is an opportunity to help people who
• Launch national and local community are long term unemployed into work. The
campaigns to highlight the positive Government will ensure there is intensive
impacts of migration and to challenge and appropriate activation measures and
disinformation. employment supports in place to help those
most distant from the labour market into the
workforce.
Support Traveller and Roma
Communities

This Government will:

• Implement the Traveller and Roma

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Supporting Pensioners • Progressively increase weekly Carer’s

Payments.
The State Pension is the bedrock of pension • Continue to increase the annual Carer’s
provision in Ireland. We want to strengthen Support Grant.
the safety net for our older citizens, • Ensure Parents who are aged 66+
improving their quality of life and promoting and caring for children with lifelong
dignity and independence in later years. disabilities retain the rate at which they
are paid their Carer’s Allowance and
This Government will: concurrently receive the State Pension.
• Maintain the State Pension Age at 66. • Examine how we can better support
• Safeguard the sustainability of the Social carers who are providing full-time care
Insurance Fund by fully implementing and attention to more than one person.
the PRSI Roadmap 2024 – 2028. • Examine the introduction of a Pay
• Progressively increase weekly pension Related Carer’s Benefit for individuals
payments. who have to give up work suddenly in
• Retain the Benefit Payment for 65-year- order to provide full-time care to a loved
olds. one.
• Examine improvements to key ancillary
benefits such as the Fuel Allowance,
Household Benefits Package and Living Addressing the Cost of Disability
Alone Allowance to support vulnerable
groups. We recognise that people with a disability
• Examine what modifications or changes face significant additional costs in their
may be made to support women who daily lives. We are committed to improving
currently fall outside the existing supports and ensuring that the social
schemes to qualify for a State Pension. welfare system is progressive and empowers
people with a disability to live full and
independent lives.
Valuing Carers
This Government will:
We recognise the enormous contribution • Introduce a permanent Annual Cost of
that family carers make to Irish society Disability Support Payment with a view
and we are committed to enhancing the to incrementally increasing this payment.
supports available to them. Significant • Reform the Disability Allowance
progress has been made in recent years to Payment and remove anomalies in the
support carers, including providing access current means test for the payment.
to the State pension for long-term carers • Progressively increase weekly Disability
and increases in the rates of payment and Payments and the Domiciliary Care
income disregards. Notwithstanding the Allowance.
progress that has been made, we fully • Review the minimum hours requirement
recognise that more needs to be done. under the Wage Subsidy Scheme for
people with disabilities and examine an
This Government will: increase to the payment rate.
• Continue to significantly increase the • Expand and build on successful
income disregards for Carer’s Allowance programmes like WorkAbility,
in each Budget with a view to phasing Employability, and the new Work and
out the means test during the lifetime of Access Programme to support people
the Government. with disabilities into employment.

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 A Caring Society

• Examine the ‘ability to work’ criteria • Develop a pension solution for foster
for certain payments and ensure that carers in recognition of the enormous
ongoing medical assessments are not contribution they make to vulnerable
carried out in respect of people with children in our society.
lifelong conditions that are not going to • Examine how the social protection
change. system can better support people fleeing
• Protect the Free Travel Pass and examine domestic violence.
extending it to children in receipt of • Enhance supports for lone parents.
Domiciliary Care Allowance. • Enact legislation to give entitlement to
• Promote training initiatives to raise unmarried cohabitants to a Widow’s,
awareness and understanding of Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s
disabilities amongst Intreo staff. Contributory Pension.
• Extend the period of a social welfare
payment following the death of a
Supporting Children and Families dependent from 6-12 weeks.

We are committed to supporting all families

with the cost of living while also providing Hot School Meals
targeted supports to those most in need.
The Hot School Meals Programme ensures
This Government will: no child goes hungry. There is no stigma
• Introduce Pay Related Parents Benefit attached to the Programme with all children
and explore other payments where a in a school treated equally and sitting down
similar model could be applied. to have their meal together.
• Examine the extension of Parents Leave
and Benefit and additional flexibilities. This Government will:
• Continue to support families with the • Complete the roll-out of Hot School
cost of raising their family through the Meals to all Primary Schools in 2025.
child benefit payment. • Ensure that suppliers adhere to robust
• Examine the eligibility criteria for the guidelines on the nutritional value of
Back to School Clothing and Footwear meals, the dietary requirements of
Allowance. students, reduce food waste and utilise
• Set a new child poverty target and recyclable packaging.
examine ways to lift more children out of • Commence the rollout of Hot School
child poverty. Meals to all secondary schools over the
• Explore a targeted Child Benefit lifetime of the next government.
Payment and examine the interaction • Implement the Summer 2025 Holiday
this would have with existing targeted Meals pilot project and evaluate this
supports to reduce Child Poverty such as initiative aimed at closing the nutritional
the Working Family Payment and Child gap during school closures.
Support Payment.
• Expand the eligibility for the Fuel
Allowance to families in receipt of the
Working Family Payment.
• Increase core welfare payments, ensuring
that resources are also targeted at
people who are unable to work.
• Progressively increase the Child Support
Payment.
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Programme for Government

Supporting Workers agreeing the final design of the Working

Age Payment.

We will ensure that key reforms to support

workers are implemented. This Government Intensive Activation Supports
will:
This Government will:
• Introduce Pay Related Benefit in March • Publish a new Employment Strategy
2025 linking unemployment payments focused on intensive engagement and
to previous earnings for those who have supports to help those most distant from
contributed to the Social Insurance Fund the labour market into the workforce.
and who lose their jobs. • Ensure every effort is made to support
• Introduce the Auto Enrolment My individuals transition from welfare into
Future Fund in September 2025 to further education/training and work,
provide workers with greater comfort by examining how to avoid a cliff edge
and security regarding their retirement when people take up work.
savings. • Increase the number of recruitment fairs
• Explore the option of giving self- and job matching services connecting
employed workers access to Illness employers with jobseekers.
Benefit by means of making a higher • Scale up control measures in order to
PRSI contribution. tackle abuse of social welfare payments.

Working Age Payment Comprehensive Means Test Review

We must ensure the social protection This Government will:

system is work-friendly and that welfare • Carry out a comprehensive review of
traps which inhibit people from taking up means tests across the social welfare
work are removed. At present if a person on system taking into account the recent
a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment receives Report on Means Testing by the Joint
an offer of part-time work, they may end up Oireachtas Committee on Social
worse off financially if their hours are spread Protection with a view to creating a
over the whole of the working week, rather fairer social welfare system.
than concentrated on three days or less, a • Enhance application processes within
situation which must be addressed. the Department of Social Protection
and provide additional resources where
This Government will: necessary to ensure that individuals
• Introduce a new Working Age Payment receive decisions on their applications in
which will ensure that individuals always a timely manner.
see an increase in income when they
work or take on additional hours. The
Working Age Payment will remove
inconsistencies and anomalies in the
current Jobseekers Allowance Scheme
which discourage people from taking
up employment. We will publish draft
proposals for full consultation with
stakeholders in advance of Government

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Community Employment

This Government will:

• Provide increased flexibility to local
Community Employment (CE), TÚS,
and Rural Social Schemes to retain
participants for longer when it benefits
both the individual and the community.
• In particular, work to ensure there is
some discretion at local level so that
vulnerable individuals who have little
prospect of entering paid employment
are not forced off CE schemes when
their three-year term expires.
• Increase the top-up payment for
participants on CE, TÚS, and the
Rural Social Scheme in recognition of
the important work they do in local
communities.
Thriving
Communities
Programme for Government

Thriving
Communities

Driving support rural regeneration and ensure local

communities are supported to make their

Balanced town, village and parish thriving places to

live, work and raise a family.

Regional
Development Rural and Regional Development

& Supporting This Government will:

• Ensure Project Ireland 2040 and the

Rural updated National Planning Framework

support 50:50 balanced population

Communities growth between the Eastern and Midland

region, and the Southern and Northern
and Western regions combined.
Ireland’s population is growing rapidly. • Increase public sector investment to
By 2040, there will be close to a million address infrastructural deficits with an
more people in the country. This creates early review of the National Development
challenges and opportunities. This Plan which will be completed in July
Government is committed to balanced 2025.
regional development and supporting • The review of the National Development
rural communities. We believe that the Plan will underpin the delivery of
needs and wants of the population can balanced regional development as a key
be better fulfilled through more dispersed objective.
growth right across Ireland. The roll-out • Maintain a dedicated Department for
of high-speed broadband nationwide and Rural Affairs and strengthen its remit
the increase in remote working means to become the Department of Rural,
more people now have the opportunity Community and Gaeltacht Affairs.
to live in the community where they grew • Publish and implement Our Rural Future
up. Recognition of the distinct needs and 2025 – 2030, ensuring a whole-of-
opportunities of rural Ireland must be at Government approach to the next phase
the heart of decision making. Through of Ireland’s rural development policy.
new initiatives and targeted investment, • Establish a Rural Communities Initiative,
we will foster regional enterprise growth, similar in style to the previous RAPID

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 Thriving Communities

programme, where all state agencies • Increase funding for the protection and
work together to implement community renewal of the road network to address
development and town-centre maintenance backlogs.
rejuvenation. This work will be co- • Provide extra funding for the
ordinated by a dedicated Development improvement of transport networks
Office, with dedicated funding from the countrywide to promote increased
responsible Department. business investment in the economy and
the supply of new housing.
• Continue upgrading the bus fleet,
Promoting and Supporting Remote improving service reliability and comfort.
Work • Work collaboratively to act on the
recommendations from the All-Island
The roll-out of high-speed broadband and Strategic Rail Review to improve
the increase in remote working following the connectivity across the island of Ireland.
pandemic has been hugely positive for rural • Continue the roll-out of Connecting
Ireland enabling people to live and work Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and
in their own community. We recognise the investment in new town bus services.
immense opportunities that connectivity
can generate for work, education, health,
and rural development. Connected Hubs

This Government will: The national network of almost 400

• Complete the roll-out of high-speed fibre Connected Hubs across the country
broadband to 1.1 million people, including are having a positive impact in rural
homes, farms, and businesses nationwide communities. We believe these hubs have
by 2026. huge additional potential.
• Promote flexible working arrangements
that benefit both workers and employers. This Government will:
• Review the Civil Service Blended • Expand the remit of Connected Hubs
Working Policy Framework to consider to unlock new opportunities in rural
how the public sector can adopt a communities, enabling remote work,
coherent approach to blended working e-health, remote learning and digital
and remote work. engagement.
• Promote Connected Hubs as incubation
spaces for local entrepreneurs and start-
Strengthening Regional Connectivity ups as well as a potential landing space
to be used by workers in FDI companies.
This Government will: • Encourage social enterprise to utilise the
• Invest in all road projects in the current hubs as a solution for local community
National Development Plan (NDP) and needs.
consider additional important road • Roll out a further round of the
projects as part of the NDP review. Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme.
• Provide multi-annual funding clarity for
roads budgets so agencies can plan
accordingly. Driving Job Creation in the Regions
• Increase funding for new roads as part of
the NDP review and the maintenance of This Government will:
existing roads. • Work with IDA Ireland to spread

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Programme for Government

foreign direct investment across the • Expand the Building Acquisition

country ensuring that at least half of Programme to enable local groups
IDA investments are located outside of to repurpose vacant buildings for
Dublin. community use.
• Prioritise locating new State agencies in • Increase the number of people living in
cities and towns outside of Dublin. rural Ireland, increase the Vacant and
• Continue to advance a balanced Derelict Property Refurbishment Grants
approach to regional development, and introduce a new Town Centre Living
cognisant that the European Commission ‘Above the Shop’ Grant specifically to
has identified the North West as convert above the shop type premises
requiring additional support. in rural town centres for residential
• Enhance the availability of advanced use in recognition of the additional
manufacturing facilities to attract more complexities involved in renovating these
foreign direct investment to regional properties.
locations and ensure that IDA Ireland • Work to support the development and
intensively markets these facilities. retention of community-run shops and
• Establish five new cluster organisations cafes.
to facilitate collaboration and collective
action among related companies,
as well as partnerships with higher Unlocking Rural Ireland’s Tourism
education institutions and public sector Potential
bodies under a new National Clustering
Programme. One of rural Ireland’s greatest strengths is
• Consider an annual Social Enterprise its stunning natural amenities. Every county
Empowerment and Development Fund has its own unique natural assets whether
(SEED) to unlock the potential of the it’s our forest parks, mountain trails, rivers,
social enterprise sector for sustainable greenways, bogs or beaches. We have seen
job creation, affordable childcare the huge economic benefits that major
provision and community services. Greenway projects have delivered for local
towns and villages. There is huge untapped
potential in other parts of the country to
Town Centre First – Tackling develop similar amenities and market these
Vacancy and Regenerating our to domestic and international visitors.
Towns & Villages
This Government will:
This Government will: • Work with Fáilte Ireland to develop a
• Resource the Town Centre First model balanced regional spread of tourism
and establish a Town Regeneration Team throughout the country, further
in every local authority bringing together advancing the experience brands of
Town Regeneration Officers, Vacant Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East
Homes Officers and other key staff. and the Wild Atlantic Way.
• Develop a connected network of
• Increase the Rural Regeneration and greenways and cycle routes across
Development Fund (RRDF). Ireland.
• Review the criteria for the Town and • Develop more blueway projects across
Village scheme so that towns with larger the country enhancing water-based
populations of over 10,000 are eligible to tourism and recreational opportunities.
apply. • Continue to invest in key regional

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 Thriving Communities

tourism projects under the Rural Investment Fund becomes a permanent

Regeneration and Development Fund. rolling fund to upgrade, refurbish and
• Through the Outdoor Recreation build local community centres.
Infrastructure Scheme invest in the • Increase funding for the Local
development of new walking trails, Improvement Scheme to support the
cycle ways, tidal pools and other unique upgrading of rural laneways.
amenities at local level. • Expand Local Link Services in rural areas.
• Work with Coillte to continue to invest • Continue to fund Men’s and Women’s
and upgrade visitor amenities at our Sheds.
Forest Parks across the country. • Continue to fund our local agricultural
• Working in partnership with landowners, shows in recognition of the unique
continue to expand and increase contribution they make to rural
investment in the National Walks Scheme communities.
creating flagship walking and hiking trails • Triple the My Open Library facilities
across the country. and enhance library sensory spaces for
• Ensure that the LEADER Programme inclusive community use.
continues to have a strong focus on • Require the Local Community
Rural Tourism. Development Committees (LCDCs) to
recruit Social Development Managers to
prioritise very disadvantaged areas.
Islands • Remove the necessity for co-funding for
state funded projects in areas of high
This Government will: socio-economic deprivation.
• Provide ringfenced funding for • Progressively increase funding for
projects on the islands under all rural the Social Inclusion & Community
development funding programmes to Activation Programme (SICAP) which
support those living on our islands. is critical to addressing social exclusion
• Ensure the national policy for the islands, and disadvantage and encouraging
Our Living Islands, is fully implemented involvement in communities.
to support sustainable development for • Open the Community Services
island residents. Programme for new applications
• Examine the roll out of e-health facilities annually so that more organisations can
to more offshore islands. join the programme.
• Continue to support and increase the
places on successful local programmes
Supporting Communities such as CE, TÚS and the Rural Social
Scheme which do vital work in local
This Government will: communities.
• Carry out a comprehensive review of • Publish a new National Volunteering
the eligibility criteria of CLÁR within Strategy.
6 months with a view to expanding • Engage at EU level to increase funding
the programme to rural areas which for the next LEADER programme,
are currently ineligible. As part of this examine how we can reduce
review, examine the merits of utilising bureaucracy, simplify the application
Pobal’s Rural Deprivation Index or other process and continue to provide
measures deemed appropriate for sufficient core funding from the State.
determining CLÁR status. • Examine tax measures for donations to
• Ensure the Community Centre community development companies.

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Programme for Government

• Invest in the rollout of the Local Dog Control

Community Safety Partnerships and
social and economic regeneration This Government will:
programmes to support communities • Address the disjointed approach to
experiencing high levels of crime, dog control issues by ensuring all
unemployment and social exclusion. legislation and policy in relation to the
control of dogs, dog welfare and dog
breeding establishments rests with the
Fire Services Department of Agriculture.
• Increase the number of Dog Wardens
This Government will: across the country.
• Support the retained fire fighters service
to ensure conditions are sufficient to
attract, recruit and retain the required Charities
complement of fire fighters in the
service. This Government will:
• Continue to invest in the provision of • Strive to make it easier for charitable
new fire stations and the refurbishment organisations to register formally as
of existing fire stations throughout the a charity and update the tax code to
country. promote charitable donations.

Waterways Ireland Philanthropy

This Government will: This Government will:

• Continue to fund and support Waterways • Progress Ireland’s first National
Ireland in co-operation with the Northern Philanthropy Policy.
Ireland Executive.

Social Innovation
Supporting Ireland’s Post Office
Network This Government will:
• Continue to support the work of
This Government will: Rethink Ireland to make a difference in
• Continue to provide the nationwide communities.
network of post offices with funding to
ensure their sustainability and enhance
the value they bring to local communities.
• Deliver social welfare payments, such
as Jobseekers Allowance, through post
offices, and examine what other services
could be provided through the network.
• Partner with An Post and local Gaeltacht
communities to identify and preserve
heritage post office buildings that are
no longer in operation, respecting their Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.
historical value and exploring potential
new uses.

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 Thriving Communities

Irish is a unique part of our heritage. This programme for third-level students to
Government is committed to the protection study in Gaeltacht areas.
and promotion of the Irish language. It is • Consider ways to enhance supports
the first language of the State. We will put to Gaelscoileanna and Gaelchloaistí,
in place targeted measures to encourage particularly in Gaeltacht areas, which
the use of the language to flourish and to have a high proportion of students
support our Gaeltacht communities. whose first language is neither Irish nor
English.
• Develop and expand connections with
Gaeltacht communities universities throughout the world that
teach Irish.
This Government will: • Continue to fund and enhance Gaeltacht
• Work with Údarás na Gaeltachta and scholarships, ensuring cost is not a
other stakeholders to ensure there is barrier for students wishing to attend
adequate provision of housing and summer courses.
community services in Gaeltacht • Maintain and where possible enhance
communities. support for Mná Tí at Gaeltacht summer
• Restore the Scéim na mBóithre Áise colleges.
to improve the non-county roads in
Gaeltacht communities.
• Resource Údarás na Gaeltachta to offer Official Languages Act
Gaeltacht businesses effective levels of
financial support and advice. This Government will:
• Restore direct elections to Údarás na • Continue to fully implement the Officials
Gaeltachta. Languages Act including the provision of
• Resource the provision of services that services through the medium of Irish.
support families and provide family
supports through the medium of Irish.
• Continue to support the work of Foras Irish media
na Gaeilge to enhance the use of Irish
language and culture across the island. This Government will:
• Support the expansion of broadcasting
licences for mainstream Irish language
Education radio stations which focus on young
listeners.
This Government will: • Continue to support the growth of TG4
• Continue assistance through the and Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. • Support an increase in RTÉ’s Irish
• Increase the dedicated Irish-medium language content.
teacher training programmes.
• Support naionraí and creches to ensure
early education access in Gaeltacht Protect home building in rural and
communities and beyond. Gaeltacht communities
• Establish Gaelscoileanna and
Gaelchloaistí where there is demand and The Government will:
support parents choosing Irish-medium • Continue to support one-off, rural
education for their children. housing.
• Expand the Seimeastar na Gaeltachta • Introduce special development plans

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Programme for Government

for Gaeltacht areas and specific housing and measures to increase Garda visibility.
targets. • Significantly boost Garda numbers in
• Introduce Gaeltacht planning guidelines. Dublin.
• Continue to support one-off self-builds • Ensure the new Transport Security Force
through the Help to Buy Scheme and the plays a central role on Dublin public
First Home Scheme. transport.
• Expand and increase funding for the • Introduce improved security measures
Ready to Build Scheme to support Local in the city centre with increased CCTV
Authorities to make serviced sites for coverage and a targeted response to
sale for individuals to build their own reduce open drug use to ensure a safer
homes. environment for all.
• Ensure Uisce Éireann expedites and • Support the designation of O’Connell
expands the Small Towns and Villages Street as a Urban Development Zone
Growth Programme in order to deliver to fast track planning and mixed use
wastewater services to rural towns and development
villages. • Honour the historic significance of
the GPO with a redevelopment plan,
reinforcing its role as a central landmark
in Dublin.
• Provide funding and resources to the
National Concert Hall to enhance this
vital cultural institution.

Rejuvenating • Collaborate with cultural institutions

to offer more late-night events and

our Capital City extended opening hours throughout

the year, by enacting the Night-time

Centre •
Economy Bill.
Launch an Urban Communities Initiative
to revitalise disadvantaged city areas
The Government is committed to with focused community development
transforming Dublin City Centre into a and youth programmes delivered by all
vibrant, safe, and attractive destination for State agencies.
living, working, business, and tourism. The • Continue to support the North East
Dublin City Centre Taskforce has provided a Inner City Programme to strengthen
holistic plan for rejuvenating the city centre, community safety, boost educational
focusing on coordinated efforts between and employment opportunities, improve
national and local government, businesses, wellbeing, and enhance the area’s
and civic and cultural organisations. physical landscape.
• Revive the North Georgian Core and
This Government will: incentivise conservation-led investment
• Implement the Dublin City Centre in the area, from Parnell Square to
Taskforce recommendations through Mountjoy Square, to address neglect,
the Department of the Taoiseach. We revitalise historic buildings, and improve
will also apply this taskforce model to public spaces.
other cities, towns and regions in need • Review and expand the Living City
of revitalisation, starting with a taskforce Initiative.
for Cork City, which will launch shortly. • Utilise State schemes and supports
• Support additional Garda recruitment such as adaptive reuse and vacancy

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 Thriving Communities

grants through our affordable and social

housing funds to renovate old buildings
to promote high density residential
brownfield development and tackling
dereliction and vacancy in Dublin.
• Continue and accelerate Social Housing
regeneration schemes in Dublin.
• Consider the appropriate concentration
of services in Dublin City Centre and
other urban centres, including the
appropriate distribution of temporary
accommodation, drug treatment
facilities, and other essential services.
• Ensure the that on-street charitable
services are properly regulated.
• Support the Clean Streets, Safe Streets
initiative for cleaning, bins, and anti-litter
initiatives.
• Increase fines for littering and dog
fouling.
• Ensure the new Towns and Cities
Infrastructure Investment Fund, which
will replace the Urban Regeneration and
Development Fund, helps to regenerate
Dublin City Centre as well as our cities
and towns.

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Safe and
Secure
Communities
Programme for Government

Safe and Secure

Communities

Justice The Government is committed to

building stronger, safer communities
by strengthening An Garda Síochána,
Everyone has a right to be safe and to feel expanding resources, and modernising
safe in their community and in their home. support to tackle crime.

We will prioritise investment across the This Government will:

justice system, including in An Garda • Provide funding to recruit at least 5,000
Síochána, in the Courts, in the Director of new Garda recruits and additional Garda
Public Prosecutions, in the Prisons and in Staff over the next five years.
the Probation Service. • Continue to support and expand the
Garda Training College in Templemore
Across the country, communities are dealing as the main and primary Garda Training
with the scourge of anti-social behaviour. [Link] the Garda recruitment
We will invest strongly in preventive and training processes to increase
measures, including in youth justice capacity and to widen the talent pool
programmes, while strengthening our laws. which will include expanding capacity
at Templemore Garda Training College.
Tackling the epidemic of domestic, sexual Consider the establishment of a second
and gender-based violence will remain a Garda training college.
major priority for the Government. We will • Consider allowing Garda trainees to
invest in new refuge spaces, update the undergo part of their training course
school curriculum, roll-out training and in regionally based Universities or
make the criminal justice system more Technological Universities.
victim centred, in particular our Courts • Examine the introduction of an
system. accelerated graduate entry programme
to An Garda Síochána.
We will establish a new Department of • Make the Gardaí more attractive to new
Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. recruits by increasing the Garda training
allowance.
• Introduce deployment targets to improve
Stronger, Safer Communities: Garda visibility on the frontline.
Protecting and Investing in An Garda • Increase the Garda Reserve intake
Síochána beyond the current target of 2,000 and

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 Safe and Secure Communities

ensure new intakes annually. • Increase funding for the Garda National
• Implement a new Garda Capital Plan to Cyber Crime Bureau to ensure that
deliver modern, well-equipped Garda cyber forensics keep pace with modern
stations across the country. technology.
• Increase Garda visibility on public • Examine further measures to penalise
transport and introduce Garda Transport those who assault emergency workers in
Hubs based at major bus and train the course of their duties.
stations to ensure Gardaí can rapidly • Support the rollout of the current Youth
respond to incidents on public transport. Justice Strategy and develop a successor
• Expand the Garda Dog Unit nationwide strategy.
and complete a new centre of excellence. • Continue to support National Missing
• Legislate to give Gardaí the authority to Persons Day and work with An Garda
request passwords for electronic devices Síochána, Forensic Science Ireland, the
when executing a search warrant. Coroners Service, the State Pathologist
• Review and update the Public Order and impacted families.
Acts, including in relation to sentencing,
and ensure Gardaí have the power they
need to manage public order situations Crime in the Community
effectively.
• Expand the powers of the Criminal The Government is dedicated to enhancing
Assets Bureau (CAB) and give CAB the community safety by implementing
power to publish a list of tax defaulters. comprehensive measures to address crime
• Invest in Garda equipment and and support local policing efforts.
technology, including in body armour,
additional vehicles, water cannons, and This Government will:
air capacity. • Publish a new Rural Safety Strategy and
• Equip all frontline Garda with body-worn support An Garda Síochána to expand
cameras to improve accountability and successful approaches to tackling rural
safety. crime.
• Expand the number of cameras using • Establish Community Safety Partnerships
Automatic number plate Recognition and increase the Community Safety
(ANPR) to fight serious and organised Innovation Fund to support the national
crime. roll-out.
• Deploy facial recognition technology • Roll out ‘see something, say something’
(FRT) for serious crimes and missing nationally as a confidential text and
persons, with strict safeguards. messaging system and continue to
• Introduce live FRT in cases of terrorism, support community alert groups.
national security, and missing persons, • Ensure each community policing area
with strict safeguards. has a dedicated community Garda, so
• Support the Gardaí to use Artificial everyone knows their local officer and
Intelligence in criminal investigations how to contact them.
subject to clear guidelines and oversight. • Further build capacity to tackle white
• Implement reforms on foot of the Report collar crime, through the implementation
of the High Level Review Group on the of the Hamilton Report and publish a
role of An Garda Síochána in the public new Action Plan to tackle economic
prosecution system. crime and corruption.
• Increase investment in Forensic Science
Ireland to support criminal investigations.

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Programme for Government

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour street design.

• Support Gardaí to use drones to tackle
The Government is committed to tackling crime in line with the Garda Síochána
the scourge of anti-social behaviour and (Recording Devices) Act 2023.
drug use to ensure safer communities and
public spaces.
Tackling Drug Use
This Government will:
• Enact legislation to combat anti-social This Government will:
behaviour, including enhancing the • Support An Garda Síochána to dismantle
use of Anti-Social Behaviour Warnings criminal gangs and tackle the drugs
(ASBWs) and Anti-Social Behaviour epidemic.
Orders (ASBOs). We will also consider • Work to intensify partnerships with
the introduction of Dispersal Orders and Interpol, Europol, and other international
Public Space Protection Orders. agencies to tackle the illicit trafficking of
• Enact legislation to extend the use drugs before they enter the Irish market.
of community sanctions, in particular • Fund innovative law enforcement
increasing the use of community service technologies including unmanned drones
orders. to patrol our coast and ports and detect
• Ban the wearing of face coverings at the trafficking of illegal drugs. This will
protests and ask the Joint Oireachtas supplement the work of our air and naval
Committee to consider a ban on protests services in this sphere.
outside private homes. • Explore the possibility of requiring
• Increase the CCTV fund to enable Local social media companies and online
Authorities to install new CCTV schemes. communication platforms to provide An
• Expand the ‘Greentown’ programme Garda Síochána with information they
nationally to break the link between have on their platforms relating to the
children and the gangs that seek to supply of illegal drugs.
recruit them. • Review the sentences for those involved
• Divert young people away from a life in the supply of drugs to ensure that
of crime through investment in youth the punishment imposed reflects the
justice initiatives. destruction and devastation that those
• Fund the delivery of violence prevention drugs impose on our communities.
and reduction programmes at local level. • Commit to a health-led approach to
• Ensure Gardaí have sufficient powers drug addiction and divert those found in
to tackle the misuse of E-scooters and possession of drugs for personal use to
scramblers. health services.
• Expand the list of offences leading • Re-establish the Oireachtas Joint
to permanent disqualification for Committee on Drugs Use and ensure
transport drivers and enhance safety that the Department of Health and the
by supporting the provision of CCTV in Department of Justice, Home Affairs
taxis. and Migration work collaboratively on
• Examine with An Garda Síochána the any recommendations issued by the
establishment of a Safe Public Places Committee.
Unit that can advise Local Authorities
and planning authorities, as well as
Community Safety Partnerships, on best
practice in public lighting, estate and

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Prisons and Penal Policy A Modern Courts, Legal and Coronial

System
Providing adequate prison capacity
is essential for ensuring public safety, Establishing a modern courts and legal
facilitating rehabilitation, and addressing system is vital for ensuring fair access to
the needs of individuals within the justice justice, improving efficiency, and enhancing
system. the overall experience for all users.

This Government will: This Government will:

• Construct a new prison at Thornton Hall, • Appoint 20 additional judges within 12
expand existing prison capacity by 1,500 months and plan for further increases
spaces and consider the need for a new to meet growing demands and timely
Women’s Open Prison. access to justice.
• Recruit additional prison officers to • Provide a new power to the Minister
support our expanding prison estate. to ask the Judicial Council to draw up
• Implement electronic tagging for sentencing guidelines for a particular
appropriate categories of prisoner. crime area within a certain timeframe.
• Implement electronic warrants and • Establish a Judicial Training Institute
fully digitalise the system of recording under the Judicial Council to support
sentences and release dates. ongoing training and continuous
• Enact legislation to establish minimum professional development for judges and
tariffs for any crime that carries a life prospective judges.
sentence. • Complete a review of the Courts Service
• Introduce advanced x-ray body scanners and the Legal Services Regulatory
for visitors to our prisons. Authority within 12 months and consider
• Reform the operation of Prison Visiting legislative amendments to ensure the
Committees. Courts and Legal System are digital,
• Implement an employment strategy for modern, cost-effective, and focused on
former offenders and support increased the needs of victims.
access to education and training • Introduce independent oversight of
workshops through the Prison Education professional legal education, support
Taskforce. the development of a national
• Establish a high dependency unit in the apprenticeship programme for solicitor
Irish Prison Service to address severe training, and remove barriers to
mental health and addiction challenges becoming a solicitor or barrister.
and hire more therapeutic and medical • Complete a comprehensive review of the
staff, including psychiatric nurses. criminal justice system within 12 months
• Implement recommendations on and publish an action plan to improve
the Taskforce on Mental Health and efficiency, remove blockages and cut
Addiction and publish an annual waiting times.
progress report. • Continue work to develop new guidelines
• Continue to roll out nationally the to set clear rates and scales of fees for
voluntary restorative justice programme all forms of civil litigation, promoting
• Enact the Inspection of Places of transparency, competitiveness and
Detention Bill to enable ratification of the fairness in legal costs.
UN Optional Protocol to UN Convention • Prioritise implementation of the
on Torture (OPCAT). e-evidence package, including the
establishment of a new agency, to make

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it easier and faster for law enforcement Prioritising children in our family law system
and judicial authorities to obtain the is essential for ensuring their well-being
electronic evidence they need to and safeguarding their rights during legal
investigate and eventually prosecute proceedings.
criminals.
• Work to design and implement a modern This Government will:
courts infrastructure, including the move • Implement the Family Justice Strategy
to digitalisation. 2022-2025 to enhance the family law
• Establish a regional office for the system in the best interests of children
Director of Public Prosecutions and a and publish a successor plan.
permanent on-site build in Dublin. • Publish an implementation plan for
• Sign up to the European Public a new Family Court system within 12
Prosecutor’s Office. months.
• Enact legislation to establish a modern, • Complete a purpose-built Family Law
fit-for-purpose coronial system and Court complex at Hammond Lane in
ensure all coronial appointments are Dublin.
made following a public recruitment • Enhance the enforcement mechanisms
process. We will establish a Chief for Child Maintenance orders to ensure
Coroner with nationwide jurisdiction. that children receive the financial
We will engage with the Press Council support they need from both parents.
and Coimisiún na Meán to draft new • Ensure proper regulation and funding
guidelines for media on the reporting of for Voice of the Child and Welfare
inquests. Reports, giving children a voice in legal
• Reform the operation of the criminal proceedings that affect them.
legal aid system and fully restore criminal
legal aid fees.
• Enact a Legal Aid Bill to ensure financial Zero Tolerance of Domestic, Sexual,
assessment of means with powers to and Gender-Based Violence
restrict legal aid or claw it back.
• Substantially increase the limit of the Establishing a zero tolerance approach
small claims court procedure. to domestic, sexual, and gender-based
• Ensure comprehensive support services violence is vital for safeguarding individuals
for victims and place the Criminal Injuries and promoting a safer society.
Compensation Tribunal on a statutory
basis. This Government will:
• Examine the need to legislate for • Fully implement the Zero Tolerance Plan
increased court capacity at night and 2022–2026 and develop a new plan for
off-site temporary courts to provide 2026–2030.
emergency or acute capacity as needed. • Continue to support and fully resource
• Continue to support and enhance the Cuan, the new agency dedicated to
Courts Service Capital Programme for reducing domestic, sexual and gender-
new builds and refurbishments. based violence.
• Improve access for people with • Deliver at least 280 refuge spaces by
disabilities, including participation in jury 2026. We will set new targets in the
service. successor strategy and ensure that there
is a refuge in every county along with
additional safe homes for those in need.
Reform of our Family Law System • Enable individuals experiencing sexual

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or domestic violence to remain safely in ongoing work to implement appropriate

their own homes whenever possible recommendations from the Study on
• Amend laws on counselling notes Familicide and Domestic and Family
disclosure. Violence Death Reviews.
• Review the law regarding breaches of
orders to ensure that bail can be limited
in cases where there is a history of Strengthening National Security
violence, enhancing victim protection.
• Complete a review on consent within 12 Enhancing national security is essential for
months and update the law in relation to protecting citizens, maintaining public order,
consent. and ensuring the safety of our communities.
• Introduce stronger laws to combat the
spiking of drinks. This Government will:
• Complete a review of the maximum • Increase the co-ordination role of the
sentences available for offences relating Department of the Taoiseach in relation
to child sexual abuse to ensure the to national security and establish a new
punishment always matches the crime. National Security Committee, which will
• Establish specialised judges to handle meet regularly and be chaired by the
domestic, sexual, and gender-based Taoiseach and comprised of the Tánaiste,
violence cases and invest in training for the Minister for Justice and the Minister
Gardaí and the DPP to better support for Defence.
victims. • Examine the existing national security
• Introduce an online facility for victims to structures and consider how they can be
obtain information on the status of their further strengthened and complete this
case. work within six months.
• Undertake an audit of our courthouses • Retain the Special Criminal Court and
and facilities to assess their suitability for annually renew the provisions of the
victims of domestic, sexual and gender- Offences Against the State Act 1998 and
based violence. the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act
• Work with An Garda Síochána to ensure 2009.
a person in an intimate relationship can • Consider the report on the Offences
be informed of a serious risk to them Against the State Act.
where a new partner has a history of • Bring the National Centre for Cyber
domestic violence. Security and the National Security
• Implement the Human Trafficking Action Authority under the remit of the
Plan to identify and safeguard victims of Department of Justice to ensure
human trafficking effectively through the proper alignment of national security
introduction of a new National Referral infrastructure.
Mechanism. • Establish a ring-fenced security budget
• Criminalise those who seek sex in within An Garda Síochána and expand
exchange for rent. specialist civilian recruitment into
• Increase funding allocated to Sexual the Garda National Crime & Security
Assault Treatment Units across the Intelligence Service.
country. • Enact the Terrorism Offences Bill within
• Examine proposals to remove 12 months and provide for new offences.
guardianship rights from those • Enact new Data Retention and
convicted of killing their partners or Interception laws and include provision
a parent of their child as part of the for over-the-top and encrypted services

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Programme for Government

to be included, following public services and estate agents to the

consultation, to enhance our ability to Department of Housing and censorship
combat security threats. to the Department of Media.
• Work with EU colleagues to enact an EU • Restore the Defamation Bill to the order
Wide Data Retention law. paper and make passing the legislation a
priority.
• Introduce amendments to modernise the
Tackling Retail Crime Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 following
engagement with the Joint Oireachtas
Addressing retail crime is crucial for Committee, in line with EU standards.
protecting businesses, ensuring consumer • Establish an offender specific database,
safety, and maintaining the integrity of our bringing together data from the Courts,
communities. Prison and Probation Services, the
Gardaí, the DPP and the CSO, and ensure
This Government will: key sentencing and justice indicators are
• Publish a Retail Crime Strategy with published at regular intervals.
targeted actions to reduce retail crime • Introduce a national identification
and support affected businesses. number in the criminal justice system to
• Update the Public Order Acts to allow provide for the compilation of statistics
a prolific offender of retail crime to be on an anonymised basis.
excluded from a premises for a certain • Publish the Review of Garda Vetting and
period of time. enact any necessary changes.
• Support Garda Operations to tackle • Increase investment into the Office of
retail crime including through the use of Parliamentary Counsel to ensure that
organised crime and proceeds of crime the Government’s legislative agenda
legislation. can be delivered, including the on-time
• Examine the introduction of a specific transposition of EU measures.
offence of assaulting a retail worker. • Prioritise actions to tackle money
• Introduce a new grant scheme for anti- laundering and terrorist financing and
theft and prevention measures. bring those areas which are currently
• Improve data sharing between retailers self-regulating within the remit of a
and Gardaí. regulatory body.
• Expand the use of community sanctions • Invest in the Data Protection Commission
for retail crime. to ensure it can deliver on its mandate.
• Tackle the practice of ‘retail defamation’. • Increase investment into the Director of
Public Prosecutions.

Driving Reform Across the Justice

Sector Migration - A Fair
This Government will: but Firmer System
• Enact legislation to update our licensing
laws, promoting the development of a We are a small, open economy which
modern and diverse night-time economy relies on trade and investment to deliver
in harmony with increased town centre economic and jobs growth, and raise living
living. We will publish a new Night-Time standards. Thousands of people come to
Economy Bill. Ireland to work, to study and to fill essential
• Transfer responsibility for property skills gaps, and they make a significant

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contribution to our society. to meet the demands and the opportunities

facing our society and economy over the
We must remain agile and responsive to the next decade.
needs of our economy, including our skills
needs. We need workers in all sectors like
agriculture, in our multinational sector, in A Firmer System
our health service and in our construction
sector. We will invest further resources to We are committed to implementing the new
ensure that we can quickly process visa and EU Migration and Asylum Pact through a
immigration permissions. new International Protection Act.

However, we are also living in a new reality This Government will:

– a time of great global turmoil in many • Continue to implement a firmer
countries, resulting in more people on the migration system that enhances border
move than at any point since the end of security, streamlines processing, ensures
World War II. We have seen an enormous faster removals, and protects the
increase in the number of people seeking integrity of our immigration framework,
international protection across EU member while supporting those in need.
states and the world. • Clear timelines to ensure that all
applications are processed efficiently.
It is important that a person who applies • Implement stronger border security,
for international protection receives a fair including increasing the collection of
decision as quickly as possible. We have fingerprints and photographs from new
ramped up processing of applications, arrivals, enhancing our ability to verify
introduced accelerated processing for identities
certain countries, and strengthened • Ensure applicants are provided with
immigration enforcement. accommodation with restrictions on their
movement to ensure the integrity of the
We will introduce a new International process.
Protection Act to implement the EU
Migration and Asylum Pact, which will In addition:
strengthen and integrate key EU policies • Ensure that people who arrive here
on migration, asylum, border management from safe countries, with false or no
and integration. New domestic legislation documents, or who have crossed borders
will be enacted in 2026 to provide for illegally are subject to an accelerated
faster processing of applications, stronger processing system so that decisions are
border security, and a more efficient returns made quickly.
system. • Any applicant whose international
protection application has been refused
We are committed to delivering a fair, in another EU member state will be
efficient, and sustainable model of subject to an accelerated hearing under
accommodating applicants. We will move an inadmissibility procedure.
away from the emergency use of hotels for • Those who are processed under the
housing and put in place facilities for those border procedure will not be authorised
seeking protection on state land. to enter Ireland. Their applications,
appeals and removal decisions must
We will publish a National Migration and be processed within three months. This
Integration Strategy detailing how we intend will include people who have arrived by

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Programme for Government

crossing the land border with Northern strengthen the external border of the
Ireland. Common Travel Area, including greater
• New dedicated accommodation for exchange of information.
those who are being processed in the • Ensure An Garda Síochána have the
border procedure and those who are due appropriate powers, technology, and
to be returned to another country. resources needed to dismantle the
• A greater focus on efficient returns for criminal gangs seeking to exploit the
unsuccessful international protection common travel area.
applicants, including a new ‘take back • Work with the EU to explore the
notification’ to replace the ‘take back possibility of accessing the new Visa
request. Information System.
• Processing of applications in large • Ensure the use of charter deportation
accommodation centres to ensure flights when necessary.
people get faster decisions. • Support applicants or unsuccessful
applicants to return to their own
In advance of enacting and implementing jurisdiction.
the new legislation, this Government will: • Provide new dedicated accommodation
• Continue to implement a firmer for those who are being processed in the
migration system that enhances border border procedure and those who are due
security, streamlines processing, and to be returned to another country.
protects the integrity of our immigration • Support Gardaí to step up immigration
framework, while supporting those in enforcement.
need. • Replace the International Protection
• Develop our capacity to ensure the Appeals Tribunal with a new, faster
removal of unsuccessful International appeals system.
Protection applicants.
• Expand the staffing at every stage of the
International Protection System.
• Expand accelerated processing Stronger Border Security:
further with the inclusion of additional
categories in line with the new EU This Government will:
Migration and Asylum Pact. • Develop a border security strategy
• Increase resources in the appeals system to deliver stronger border security,
to ensure appeals are dealt with quickly. including through the Border
• Consider if there are certain limited Management Unit, An Garda Síochána,
circumstances in which the right of Revenue, other relevant agencies and
appeal or judicial review can be limited relevant international partners, to
(e.g. a Judicial Review is heard after the counter threats from terrorism, organised
applicant has left the jurisdiction). crime and human trafficking.
• Establish a dedicated division of the High • Carry out joint threat analysis with other
Court to handle all immigration cases. jurisdictions and ensure technology
• Ensure anyone convicted of a serious supports stronger border screening.
crime can be rapidly removed from the • Place the Border Management Unit on a
jurisdiction. statutory footing.
• Continue to work with the UK • Review the potential introduction of an
Government to introduce further electronic travel authorisation for travel
measures to tackle abuses within from designated third countries.
the Common Travel Area (CTA) and • Increase fines for airlines and ferry

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companies that fail to comply with their process, committed a serious breach of
obligations to ensure that each person house rules or where they have engaged
they carry into the country has a valid in serious criminal behaviour.
passport or valid documentation. • Ensure applicants who have received
• Expand the number of Garda Airline a final negative decision are no
Liaison Officers posted at overseas longer entitled to Material Reception
airports to prevent irregular migration. Conditions.
• Support and increase in the number of • Further reduce the use of hotels for
Gardaí trained as Immigration Officers. housing asylum seekers and utilise State
• Continue ‘doorstop’ operations on flights lands to develop appropriate State-
that pose risks of irregular migration to owned facilities.
prevent unlawful entry into the state. • Give greater lead-in time to the opening
of new facilities, allowing for enhanced
and effective local communication, and
International Co-Operation and development of integration.
Tackling People Smuggling and • Ensure meaningful consultation with
Human Trafficking local communities and plan more
effectively for delivery of increased
This Government will: public services.
• Expand the Garda Liaison network • Expand the Community Engagement
to additional locations to continue to Team to provide for detailed discussions
improve international law enforcement with communities.
co-operation.
• Support action to disrupt and dismantle
the people smuggling gangs that are Effective Integration and Social
facilitating illegal immigration into Cohesion
Ireland.
• Invest in state-of-the-art technology and Ireland needs migration to thrive, and
enhanced intelligence capabilities. we are committed to ensuring successful
• Consider a new offence to make forced integration so that newcomers feel
labour a standalone criminal offence. welcomed and connected to our society.
• Initiate a public education campaign
highlighting the fact that it is a criminal This Government will:
offence in Ireland to pay for sex. • Publish a new national Migration and
Integration Strategy.
• Invest in integration programmes that
Accommodation support language learning, as well as
broader social, cultural and sporting
This Government will: exchange, and access to essential
• Return responsibility for international public services such as education
protection accommodation and and healthcare, facilitating smoother
integration to the Department of Justice, transitions for migrants.
Home Affairs and Migration. • Continue to invest in English language
• Require International Protection classes for people seeking international
applicants to contribute towards their protection.
accommodation costs. • Enforce policies to protect migrants
• Withdraw supports where applicants from exploitation and abuse, highlighting
have failed to comply with the IP the social and economic benefits of

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Programme for Government

migration to counter anti-immigration application procedure supported by a

sentiments. new ICT system.
• Develop community-led initiatives to • Increase investment and resources
foster connections between migrants to support faster processing of legal
and local populations, particularly in migration visas and permissions.
areas receiving a high number of new • Introduce expedited visa options for
arrivals, to build strong community ties. high-demand sectors to facilitate quicker
• Renew the focus and the purpose of the entry for skilled professionals.
Community Recognition Fund to ensure • Examine ways to facilitate people who
it meets the needs of local communities are on work permits to move jobs more
which are supporting new arrivals. We easily and legally, while protecting the
will ensure every community benefits to integrity of the immigration system.
guarantee supports for vital services. • Link migration policy with education
to allow international students in key
In addition; disciplines, especially in STEM fields, to
• Create research fellowships to transition smoothly from student visas
strengthen Ireland’s appeal to top-tier to permanent residency. This approach
academic and research talent. will help retain the talent that has been
• Establish talent networks to connect trained within Ireland.
highly-skilled individuals abroad with
opportunities in Ireland, creating a
pipeline for skilled Irish emigrants to
return and for foreign talent to engage
with our economy.
• Task the Labour Employer Economic
Forum (LEEF), with developing
recommendations to enhance the
diversity of our workforce, especially in
the civil and public service sectors.

Employment Permits and Visas

We are committed to addressing skill

shortages and supporting economic growth
through a strategic migration approach.

This Government will:

• Prioritise a skills-based migration system
to target sectors facing significant
shortages, such as healthcare, ICT,
engineering, and construction, to ensure
that the workforce meets the needs of
the economy.
• Explore the expansion of eligible roles
for employment permits.
• Merge the visa and employment permit
system into one user-friendly single

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Enriching our
Society and
Culture
Programme for Government

Enriching our
Society and Culture

Arts and Culture through an expanded Creative Schools

Programme.
• Support the development and provision
of affordable spaces for artists to work
Supporting Culture, Creativity, and and collaborate, through the local
the Arts authorities and the OPW.
• Streamline licensing, traffic management,
The Government believes that culture and and insurance processes to facilitate
the arts are essential to a well-rounded festival planning, promoting vibrant,
society, providing opportunities for accessible events for communities.
education, expression, and community • Maintain and grow funding for the Arts
engagement. Ireland is world renowned for Council, Culture Ireland, and other
our rich, diverse and vibrant arts sector. organisations that support both national
and international artistic endeavours.
This Government will: • Support artists to access international
• Assess the Basic Income for Artists pilot opportunities through increased funding
to maximise its impact. for Culture Ireland and support for our
• Examine the feasibility of a minor capital embassies to promote more bilateral
works grant scheme to support arts and exchanges.
cultural facilities that are not funded • Boost funding for the Touring of
through The Arts Council. Work Scheme to facilitate regional
• Continue to increase capital investment presentations of professional
in national arts infrastructure through the productions and extend access to arts
review of the National Development Plan. organisations and venues in Northern
• Continue the section 481 film tax Ireland.
credit to support film and unscripted • Explore initiatives to promote our
productions. thriving design and fashion scene,
• Examine options to introduce sector including support for the Design and
specific measures for the visual effects Crafts Council Ireland and the Irish
sector. Grown Wool Council.
• Examine the tax treatment of production
costs for theatre productions.
• Ensure that every child has access to
tuition in art, music, drama, or coding

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 Enriching our Society and Culture

Promoting Ireland’s Cultural Night-Time Economy

Landscape
This Government will:
This Government will: • Support the work of the Night-Time
• Examine the introduction of a Culture Economy Unit to deliver upon the
Card for 16 and 17-year-olds to access recommendations of the Taskforce.
theatre, music and art events. • Continue the Night-Time Economy
• Ensure all National Cultural Institutions Support Scheme.
develop a programme for Transition Year • Promote later opening hours at
students. museums, galleries, and other cultural
• Develop initiatives that support venues to offer flexible access for
traditional Irish music and dance. visitors, and the expansion of supporting
• Work with National Cultural Institutions services.
to improve public access to Ireland’s • Enact legislation to update our licencing
collections through exhibitions, loans, laws, promoting the development of a
and educational programmes. modern and diverse night-time economy,
• Continue grants for community-based which is reflective of local needs.
cultural institutions and support large
cultural centres, ensuring vibrant cultural
opportunities across Ireland. Commemorations
• Redevelop the GPO as a historic
landmark to preserve its historic During the period of this Government,
importance and enhance its role as a key we will remember and reflect on many
cultural landmark in Dublin. significant historical events which have
• Fund further development of the been important to the legacy of the State
National Concert Hall as a premier and left a lasting impact on Irish culture.
cultural venue. We will ensure that local communities
• Work towards the completion of the are supported to deliver meaningful and
Cork Events Centre to enhance Cork’s inclusive commemorations. Amongst the
cultural landscape and boost the city’s events which the Government could mark in
regeneration. an appropriate way are:
• Continue funding Creative Youth,
ensuring inclusivity and access for • 2025: Mark the 250th Anniversary of
young people of diverse backgrounds the birth of Daniel O’Connell, and the
interested in the arts. bicentenaries of some of the most
• Introduce and expand arts programming pivotal moments in his career and
in early childhood education and care develop an educational schools’ pack
settings, nurturing creativity from a for use across the island highlighting
young age. how Irish identity was, and remains a
• Increase financial support for the European identity, while showcasing
Creative Schools and Music Generation O’Connell’s contribution to intellectual
projects. and political thought on a global scale.
• Establish and fund an Irish Town of • 2026: 250th anniversary of the
Culture programme to support local U.S. Declaration of Independence,
creative projects. highlighting Ireland’s connection to that
story, both north and south.
• 2027: Birth of Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington
and the death of Constance Markievicz.

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• 1928: Anniversary of the Irish pound. encourage gym membership and active
• 2029: 300th anniversary of Jonathan participation in sport and exercise.
Swift’s A Modest Proposal. • Implement the New National Swimming
• 2029: 150th anniversary of the Strategy by investing in pools and
foundation of the Land League. swimming facilities allowing everyone an
• 2029: The centenary of the opening of opportunity to swim.
Ardnacrusha, the creation of the ESB, • Appoint a Sport Ireland Disability Lead.
and rural electrification. • Promote volunteerism and improve the
vetting process for people involved in
sport.
• Expand support for para-sports and
special needs programmes by providing
grants to clubs that demonstrate
inclusive policies and facilities.

Sport • Work with all sporting organisations

to promote a ‘one club’ ethos,
encompassing male and female
Sport holds a special place in Irish life and participants and promoting equality of
society promoting health and wellbeing, access to sporting facilities.
encouraging community participation and • Expand cross-border sport opportunities.
instilling a sense of pride in our people.

We are committed to supporting our Education

sporting ecosystem so more people can
participate, reap the benefits of sport, and This Government will:
fulfil their potential - from grassroots right • Prioritise the development of physical
up to high performance level. education halls and sporting facilities
(including yards and play areas) for
schools in conjunction with the Sports
Increase Participation Capital Fund to deliver for both schools
and communities.
This Government will: • Increase the number of schools offering
• Promote at least 60 minutes of daily PE as a Leaving Certificate exam subject.
physical activity for children of all • Expand the Active School Flag Initiative
abilities. and equip schools with resources to
• Maintain sports funding to get more better promote physical activity and
people participating in all levels of sport, health.
particularly targeting cohorts in society • Mandate the Local Sports Partnerships
where there are lower than average to collaborate with schools to promote
participation levels including people with inter-school competitions, sports
disabilities and older people. festivals, and collaboration with parents,
• Work with the GAA, the IRFU, the FAI local sports clubs, and national sporting
and all sporting organisations to drive organisations to create a dynamic,
increased participation in sport. inclusive approach to physical activity.
• Continue to support participation in all
sports from grassroots to elite level.
• Consider measures, in conjunction
with the Department of Finance, to

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Increase Funding for Sport and train high-performance coaches

and implement the Sport Ireland High
This Government will: Performance Strategy to support the
• Continue to support the funding of Olympians and Paralympians of the
sports capital projects, and assess the future.
distribution of funding to maximise • Promote an all-island approach to
participation in all sports at community hosting major international sporting
and national level. events, building on the Major
• Examine the role of philanthropy in International Events policy, including
providing additional funds. supporting the hosting of the 2027
• Conduct a nationwide audit of sports Ryder Cup, Euro 2028, the T20
facilities to address shortages in areas Cricket World Cup 2030, the Open
underserved including towns with Championships and bidding for major
populations over 1,500. competitions.
• Support local authorities in the • Strengthen efforts to seek business
acquisition of new lands for parks and and philanthropic funding for high
playing pitches to help build liveable performance sport to complement state
communities. funding.
• Mandate local authorities to develop an
amenity plan with the developers of all
new major housing developments. Governance
• Allow approved sports bodies to create
long-term Strategic Development This Government will:
Funds for capital investment in facilities, • Mandate all national governing bodies
removing the requirement that the and sports organisations to adhere
proceeds of donations (and associated to international best practices in
tax relief) be tied to a specific approved governance, transparency, and anti-
capital project. corruption measures.
• Extend charitable status to National • Develop a long-term strategy to close
Governing Bodies and Local Sports the gap on gender inequality when
Partnerships on an opt-in/opt-out basis. it comes to funding, representation,
remuneration, media coverage,
sponsorship and participation at
High Performance grassroots and elite levels.
• Consult with athletes, referees and
This Government will: officials to devise the best way to
• Complete the development of protect against abuse and misconduct,
the National Sports Campus in ensuring all sporting environments are
Blanchardstown. safe and respectful. This should lead to
• Work to better connect the National better governance and codes of conduct
Sports Campus with public transport. at club level.
• Proceed with the National Velodrome
and Badminton Centre, as well as the
new National Cricket Stadium.
• Explore new mechanisms for the
creation of football academies with the
FAI and the League of Ireland.
• Provide dedicated funding to support

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deserves to have this recognised.

Media
This Government will:
• Review the Sound and Vision Scheme
to support broadcasters making high
quality programming around Irish culture
Supporting a Strong, Independent and heritage and make it easier to access
and Diverse Media and ensure proportionate and accessible
funding for independent radio.
The Government is committed to a strong, • Provide funding for local media to report
independent media sector that provides on local authority business, ensuring
essential public service broadcasting, communities are informed about key
supports local journalism, and upholds decisions affecting their lives.
press freedom. We believe a well-resourced, • Strengthen the Local Democracy and
transparent, and accountable media Court Reporting Schemes to ensure they
landscape is fundamental to an informed are meeting their intended objectives
society and democracy. in producing high-quality reports for
regional audiences.
This Government will: • Explore options to maintain access to
• Ensure stable, sufficient funding for RTÉ local and commercial radio.
and other public service broadcasters • Ensure accessible funding for local radio
to maintain quality programming and and print media to support the provision
public trust. of objective news and current affairs
• Respect RTÉ’s independence while content, taking into account Coimisiún
ensuring that necessary reforms are na Meán recommendations.
carried out in tandem with funding, • Enhance supports for increased use of
securing a sustainable future for public the Irish language.
service media.
• Enact new legislation to ensure that the
corporate governance model in RTE is Supporting Media
open, transparent and appropriate to its
public service mandate. This Government will:
• Maintain and continue to grow the • Pass the Defamation Bill to balance
Global Ireland Media Challenge Fund freedom of expression with protections
to build capacity of Irish media outlets for individuals’ good name and
to undertake quality reporting on reputation. This will include safeguards
international geopolitical events. against SLAPP suits (strategic lawsuits
• Through Coimisiún na Meán, allocate against public participation) to prevent
Shared Island Funding resources to misuse of defamation laws to stifle public
schemes which encourage professional interest reporting.
cross border reporting on an ongoing • Support efforts to ensure that national
basis and not just at times of crisis. and local media are paid properly for
their news content when it is used by
online platforms.
A strong independent sector • Fund a National Counter Disinformation
Strategy.
Independent media, both nationally and
locally, performs a vital public service and

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Ireland’s
place in
the world
Programme for Government

Ireland’s place
in the world

Strengthening Trade

Ireland’s place We will transfer responsibility for Trade

Policy and Negotiation to the Department

in Europe and of Foreign Affairs.

around the This Government will:

• Support an open, multilateral, rules-

world based trade system, promoting free

trade policies that support economic
growth.
Ireland has a long and proud history of • Support an ambitious EU trade agenda,
constructive and ambitious engagement promoting new Free Trade Agreements,
in European and international affairs. We ensuring proper assurances regarding
are active supporters and promoters of the sustainability, human rights and the
international rules-based order and have protection of our agricultural sector.
established a strong reputation globally as
good faith participants in all multilateral
structures and organisations. Our Strengthening our place in the
membership of the United Nations remains European Union:
a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy.
This Government will:
Recognising the rapidly changing • Support the development of the
geopolitical landscape across the world and Savings and Investment Union, seeking
the threats and challenges this entails, we opportunities to improve competition in
will promote an ambitious agenda, driving key financial sectors and to support the
forward reform and advocating for our green and digital transitions.
values. We will also continue to focus on • Adopt the Budapest Declaration which
the impact of climate change on peace and includes commitments to make Europe
security and advocate internationally for the the first climate neutral continent in
education and safety of women and girls. the world and safeguard Europe’s
sovereignty security, resilience and
global influence.
• Support and implement the European
Green Deal, unlocking more of Europe’s
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 Ireland’s place in the world

renewable energy potential through • Introduce a new John Hume Fund in

enhanced EU co-operation and improved honour of one of Ireland’s greatest
European grid connectivity. ever patriots and only member of
• Ensure there is an ambitious new the European Parliament to win a
European Budget settlement, protecting Nobel Prize. This is to be awarded
existing EU programmes and taking annually by that Parliament to a
action on strategic priorities. person or organisation who promotes
• Prioritise economic competitiveness reconciliation and shared prosperity in
in the EU and continue to promote Europe.
international trade, as it is vital to the
Irish economy.
• Work to strengthen the application and Maximising the Impact of Ireland’s
monitoring of the rule of law across the EU Presidency:
EU, ensuring the non-partisan application
of the Rule of Law mechanism, and We will resource and deliver a successful
ensure that all citizens in all members EU Presidency in 2026, as it is essential for
states feel equally protected from those Ireland’s position, influence and reputation
who threaten our values, including their in the EU and for advancing the Union’s
own governments. agenda against a complex geopolitical
• Support sanctions against countries background.
seeking to undermine European
democracy. This Government will:
• Reduce where possible the regulatory • Publish plans for our upcoming
burden simplifying EU rules for the SME Presidency to deliver against strategic
and Farming sectors. priorities for Europe and Ireland.
• Deliver on plans to increase the number • Host an informal meeting of the
of Irish people applying for positions in European Council and a meeting of
the institutions of the European Union, the European Political Community in
including a communications campaign Ireland during the Presidency, as well
targeted at school leavers and graduates as a programme of between 16 and 20
highlighting the opportunities available, informal Council meetings at Ministerial
and a partnership with third level level.
providers to do the same. • Seek to bring some of the high-level
• Uphold the Irish language’s full status meetings of our Presidency to cities and
as an official language of the European counties across Ireland, ensuring the
Union. entire country benefits from the profile
• Develop and promote projects which the Presidency brings.
build links and understanding with other • Provide for a sustainability policy for the
EU capitals and regions in the fields Presidency.
of culture, education, research and
innovation.
• Stand by the EU’s accession promises, The Middle East:
promoting a positive enlargement
strategy for Ukraine, the Western This Government will:
Balkans, Moldova and Georgia. • Continue to work with partners in the
• Promote closer co-operation with region to advocate for an immediate
candidate countries, assisting these ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all
nations to align with EU standards. hostages and a surge of humanitarian

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Programme for Government

aid. We will also work with partners to • Strongly advocate for Ukrainian
help rebuild Gaza as soon as practicable. membership of the European Union,
• Seek to grow the international coalition facilitating their integration into the
of countries supporting a two-state European community.
solution through recognition of the State • Continue to fund rebuilding
of Palestine and continue to advocate infrastructure in Ukraine, including school
for internationally sponsored political rebuilding and water infrastructure
negotiations on achieving a peaceful and programmes.
secure Israel and Palestine.
• Continue to seek the application of
International Law and justice to all Defending and Promoting Irish
sides in the current conflict through the Values:
international court system.
• Advocate for a meaningful interpretation This Government will:
of Israel’s human rights obligations under • Continue to increase Official
the EU-Israel association agreement at Development Assistance annually,
European Commission level and continue working towards the UN target of 0.7%
to advocate a review of the EU Trade of Gross National Income.
Agreement. • Deliver on Ireland’s International Climate
• Progress legislation prohibiting goods Finance Roadmap to address climate
from Occupied Palestinian Territories. challenges and prioritise funding for
following the July 2024 International adaptation efforts in countries most
Court of Justice Advisory Opinion. vulnerable to climate change, particularly
• Continue to oppose and condemn Small Island Developing States.
Hamas and other groups which bring • Recommit Ireland to the UN Sustainable
terror and destruction to their own Development Goals.
people and others. • Support the new Fund for Loss and
• Support UNRWA and advocate within Damage, prioritising the world’s most
Europe for increased support. vulnerable countries.
• Work with partners in the EU to • Work with international partners to keep
introduce further sanctions against illegal attention on the plight of women and
settler activity in the West Bank and East girls in Afghanistan.
Jerusalem. • Significantly increase the proportion
of ODA that is channelled into the
education of young people in developing
Ukraine: countries, particularly the education of
girls.
This Government will: • Advocate for greater attention on the
• Continue to unequivocally support conflict in Sudan.
Ukraine, affirming that Russia cannot
win this war and supporting Ukrainian
resistance through our contribution to Strengthening Ireland’s Place in the
the European Peace Facility and the World:
Ukraine Facility.
• Work to enhance existing sanctions This Government will:
against Russia by identifying and • Develop a new strategy Global
closing loopholes to ensure maximum Ireland 2040 outlining an overarching
effectiveness. masterplan for further enhancing our

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 Ireland’s place in the world

place and influence in international Enhancing our engagement with the

affairs, including ever deeper United States
relationships with our European partners.
• Develop a strategy to map, support, This Government will:
and tell the story of Irish investment • Strengthen our political, cultural,
overseas. economic and trade relationship with
• Continue to implement and enhance the US at all levels, recognising the
whole-of-government strategies covering unique significance of the transatlantic
Latin America, Asia-Pacific, including relationship between us.
China, US & Canada and Africa. • Enhance our diplomatic presence
• Continue to develop Ireland’s presence across the US, particularly in a number
around the world, with an expansion of of southern states to ensure we are
the successful Ireland House concept; best placed to influence, anticipate and
where all of our agencies are in one respond to any planned changes by the
location, maximising impact in host new US Administration.
countries and value for Irish taxpayers at • Build on emerging and improving
home. connections with state legislatures
• Develop a new Diaspora Strategy to across the US.
ensure that the new generation and • Boost our Enterprise Ireland and IDA
profile of emigrants are aware of and can Ireland staffing levels to complement
access support overseas and develop our our diplomatic presence in the USA,
international diaspora networks using while ensuring a specific expertise in
online and data-based initiatives. digital and life sciences to maximise
• Work to facilitate the easier return opportunities in these areas.
to Ireland for emigrants, including • Create more pathways for companies
reciprocal driving licence arrangements to invest in the USA as Ireland is already
with the USA, Australia and Canada and amongst the highest inward investors in
the creation of a one-stop-support to the USA.
assist with obtaining PPS numbers and • Work with our European partners
other administrative issues. to ensure a coordinated approach
• Review the three-year residency to the Transatlantic Relationship
requirement for younger citizens residing and boost intra-EU collaboration on
overseas who want to study full time in competitiveness and productivity
Ireland. projects of common interest.
• Develop a programme for young adults • Develop a specific strategy to grow the
from the Diaspora to develop a new Irish Diaspora in the US.
generation of ties within the global Irish • Advocate with the US Administration
network. and Capitol Hill to advance the case of
• Deliver an ambitious digital strategy undocumented Irish citizens in the US.
that works towards digital passports for
those who want to avail of them in the
future, as part of better digital public
services.

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Programme for Government

Building our Shared Island:

Building our This Government will:

• Reaffirm its commitment to the Shared

Shared Island Island Fund and commit to increasing

the resources available to the Fund by

and Rebuilding a further €1 billion up to 2035 to foster

reconciliation, mutual respect and

Ireland-UK growth.
• Increase staffing levels in the Shared

Relations Island Unit within the Department of

the Taoiseach and introduce specific
targets for each government department
The Government of Ireland is committed to to come forward with new and relevant
the unity of the Irish people and believes projects.
that this can only be achieved through • Continue to provide and broaden
a sustained focus on and investment in funding for research bodies or
reconciliation and we remain steadfast in institutions which have an independent
implementing the Good Friday Agreement cross-border studies agenda.
in full. • Fund Northern Ireland students to
participate in the Erasmus programme in
The Good Friday Agreement is the blueprint Ireland and across the EU.
for unlocking the full potential of our island • Advocate for proposals that facilitate the
and sets out the three strands necessary UK’s re-entry into the Erasmus+ student
to do so – the relationship between exchange system.
communities in Northern Ireland, the • Commission a North-South statistical
relationship between North and South, and series and publication to provide
the relationship between Ireland and Britain. comparable data on economic activity,
public expenditure and wider social and
The Government reaffirms its commitment economic measures, including education,
to the successful functioning of the housing and health outcomes.
institutions of the Good Friday Agreement • Work to foster further collaboration
and to the full implementation of the between startups and businesses.
Windsor Framework Agreement. • Complete construction of the Narrow
Water Bridge and support the local
We will continue to prioritise the essential authorities on both sides of the
work of building understanding and Bridge in developing the new tourism
reconciliation, so that the fundamental opportunities it will bring.
causes of conflict and division can be • Develop the vision set out in the All-
addressed. Island Rail Review, including prioritising
delivery of the FourNorth project into
This Government has an ambitious agenda and out of Connolly Station.
to deliver tangible and meaningful progress • Improve connectivity with the
on all three strands. Northwest by working with the Northern
Ireland Executive to deliver the A5
road upgrade. Further enhance road
connectivity to and from the North-West.
• Engage with all relevant stakeholders to

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 Ireland’s place in the world

establish air connectivity between Dublin full operation of a Northern Ireland Civic
and Derry City airports. Forum as envisaged in the Good Friday
• Deepen collaboration between the Agreement.
healthcare systems on the island,
building on the model and success of the
all-island paediatric cardiac service into Strengthening Relations:
other bespoke all-island services.
• Examine the establishment of an all- This Government will:
island skills taskforce with a focus on • Enhance Irish-British relations,
planning, construction and infrastructure recognising that the peace process
development. thrives when both governments act as
• Develop an all-island plan to improve full partners and co-guarantors of the
water basin management, water quality Good Friday Agreement.
and nature restoration. • Establish new arrangements to support
• Support Tourism Ireland to further and strengthen interaction between
integrate tourism offerings on an all- the two Governments, encouraging
island basis. co-operation across all aspects of our
• Develop the full potential of the Dublin- partnership, including the North-South
Belfast Economic Corridor. bodies.
• Work with local authorities across the • Hold annual summits between the
island to advance projects on an all- two Heads of Government, providing
island basis. a platform to review joint efforts and
deepen co-operation.
• Continue to work with British
Legacy and Promoting counterparts to deliver the successful
Reconciliation: operation of the Common Travel Area.
• Co-operate on a North – South and East
This Government will: – West basis in the area of renewable
• Work with victims’ groups, political energy with a view to establishing joint
parties and the British Government to objectives and maximising collaboration.
develop a fit-for-purpose mechanism
to seek truth and justice for victims and
their families.
• Support the work of the Independent
Reporting Commission.
• Play our full part in legacy processes and
address the legacy of the conflict in this
jurisdiction, including facilitating and Enhancing
supporting the Omagh Inquiry.
• Support the PEACEPLUS and Interreg Ireland’s
programmes to assist communities
across the island, and commence Defence
planning for successor programme.
• Increase Irish Government investment in The role and contribution of our Defence
community-level reconciliation through Forces at home and abroad is a source of
the Department of Foreign Affairs’ enormous pride for the Irish people. They
Reconciliation Fund. are central to the nation’s security and a
• Advocate for the re-establishment and projection of Ireland’s values overseas, with

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Programme for Government

an unbroken commitment to peacekeeping Level of Ambition 2 Enhanced Capability,

in often very challenging circumstances. and move as quickly as possible to
Ireland’s Defence Forces have the longest Level of Ambition 3 with commensurate
unbroken record of overseas service with investment as appropriate.
the United Nations. • Deliver continued reform of the military
leadership structures, including the
Building on the progress achieved by the changes necessary to establish a new
previous government, this government is Chief of Defence (CHOD) role.
committed to the ongoing transformation • Continue to support the High Level
and modernisation of Oglaigh na hÉireann Action Plan on the implementation of
across land, air, sea and cyber domains. the Commission on Defence Forces,
We recognise the need to continuously including the identification of HQ
strengthen our Defence capabilities in light locations.
of the changed geopolitical landscape since • Ensure full delivery of the new Joint
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Cyber Defence Command strategy
published by the last Government.
• Prioritise the regeneration and growth
Strong policy base: of Ireland’s Naval Service, including
the Naval Reserve, with a focus on
The Government will preserve and protect protecting our significant and expanding
Ireland’s policy of active military neutrality. sub-sea data cabling infrastructure and
We also recognise that while we strongly emerging offshore energy sector.
value our military neutrality, we are not • Prepare a revised National Security
politically neutral. We will continue to Strategy which reflects the changed
engage with international partners and we geo-political landscape that Europe
will reform the Triple Lock legislation whilst and Ireland confronts. This will ensure
also ensuring that amendments to the a whole of Government approach to
legislation are in keeping with our values defence and deterrence.
and policy of active military neutrality. • Review our military intelligence
structures to ensure that our intelligence
We will also continue to co-operate with services are optimised to protect
international partners in pursuit of our national security.
security interests and in line with our • Plan for the interoperability of specialist
values, focussing on: Defence Forces with specialist units of
• International security and peacekeeping An Garda Siochana on national defence
• Protection of critical undersea matters.
infrastructure • Establish a Cyber Security Centre of
• More efficient procurement of military Excellence around a Cluster of Third
equipment Level Education facilities and related
• Cyber security and countering hybrid industry.
threats
• Training, upskilling and knowledge
sharing Making the Military a Career of
Choice:
This Government will:
• Continue to increase investment in This Government will:
Defence, providing the funding and • Continue to drive forward modernisation
political support necessary to achieve and cultural change, fully supporting

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 Ireland’s place in the world

the External Oversight Board in its institutions as centres for promoting

work, implementing outstanding a geographically dispersed reservist
IRG recommendations and making culture across the country.
our military a modern, effective and • Implement the ‘Civil Defence – Towards
attractive employer of choice. 2030’ policy, including delivery of a new
• Cooperate fully with the Tribunal of centralised volunteer and equipment
Inquiry into Certain Matters relating to management system.
the complaints processes in the Defence • Ensure effective implementation of the
Forces. Working Time Directive.
• Continue the process of improving pay
and conditions for serving personnel,
while also continuing to build on Investing in Equipment and the
improvements in the recruitment process Military Estate:
including a nationwide programme
for Transition Year and Third Level This Government will:
students, with a view to achieving the • Deliver enhanced radar capability for the
target of 11,500 personnel and better country, with an integrated Monitoring
representation of women at all levels of and Surveillance System across Maritime,
the Defence Forces. Land and Air domains.
• Continue to examine incentives and • Upgrade the military transport fleet,
structural changes to make a military deliver additional Air Corps capacity,
career accessible to a wider range of and deliver next generation radio
candidates, and to encourage existing communications and signal equipment.
personnel to extend their military • Progress the Naval Service Vessel
careers, including Rewarding Long Renewal and Replacement Programme,
Service and broadening eligibility replacing secondary armament across
criteria. the fleet and enhancing our subsea
• Establish a properly resourced Office capabilities, and we will continue
of Veterans Affairs, based within the to develop our maritime support
Department of Defence and working infrastructure, investing to future proof
across Government to assist with the Haulbowline Naval Base, and establishing
needs of our veterans. an additional East Coast Base for the
• Enhance the Personnel Support Service Naval Service.
(PSS), which provides essential support • We will continue the transformational
to the families and partners of Defence investment in the military estate and
Force members, recognising the the upgrading of barracks across the
importance of their contribution. country, including major upgrade of
• Ensure the further development of our Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell.
Reserve Defence Force, ensuring that • We will audit the existing military estate
the newly established Office of Reserve and examine the feasibility of developing
Affairs and the Regeneration and new accommodation on the estate for
Development Plan is fully resourced and military personnel.
equipped and take all steps to increase
the number of reserves.
• Introduce financial supports for Irish
SMEs who facilitate staff to be members
of the RDF and explore the potential
of our higher and further education

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Political
Reform
Programme for Government

Political
Reform

Protecting our • Implement the Electoral Reform Act to

ensure all online political advertising is

democracy •
fully transparent.
Sustain independent, unbiased and
pluralistic journalism through supporting
Democracy is under threat globally from the work of Coimisiún na Meán, the
increasing extremism as well as the spread media regulator.
of misinformation and disinformation. • Counter disinformation through
Ireland has one of the longest democratic regulation and support for trusted public
traditions of any country in the world, information sources.
however we cannot take that freedom for • Support the development and rollout of
granted. the EU’s Democracy Shield to combat
the disinformation and malign online
We must protect Irish democracy to ensure manipulation waged by foreign powers
it remains resilient, transparent and free in Europe.
from outside interference.

This Government will: Political Reform

• Ensure that all Irish elections remain free
and fair. The Oireachtas is the central pillar of our
• Resource and support the independent democracy and has been at the heart of
Electoral Commission to play a central the Irish State since its inception. We must
role in safeguarding the integrity of ensure that our Oireachtas and its structures
our democracy and promoting voter evolve to protect democracy and meet the
information and participation. changing needs of society. It is important
• Update and improve the electoral that the members of the Oireachtas reflect
registration process, making it more modern Ireland and that people from
efficient and accessible for citizens. diverse backgrounds are encouraged to
• Finalise engagement with the EU to participate in public life.
implement Part 5 of the Electoral
Reform Act 2022 and empower the To protect our citizens’ trust in their elected
Electoral Commission to tackle the representatives, the Oireachtas must
scourge of online disinformation and operate with transparency and integrity at
misinformation. all times.

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 Political Reform

This Government will: the environment, fire safety, climate action,

• Update the Ethics in Public Office parks and playgrounds, libraries and
legislation. amenities.
• Implement the digital transformation of
parliament, in line with the digital-first When it comes to local services, decisions
principles as contained in ‘Connecting are better made when they are made by
Government 2030’. representatives of communities that use
• Support the role of the Parliamentary them.
Budget Office and the Office of the
Parliamentary Legal Advisers in assisting We will reform and strengthen local
Oireachtas members to scrutinise government.
policy and produce feasible policy and
legislative proposals. This Government will:
• Continue to reform political party • Convene a ‘Local Democracy Taskforce’
funding to ensure improved transparency with the Local Government sector to
and fairness for all parties and to protect finalise a programme for the reform and
against malign influences on our political strengthening of local government.
system. • This Taskforce will bring forward
• Implement recommendations of the Task proposals which the Government will
Force on Safe Participation in Political consider, with a particular focus on:
Life. * The principle of subsidiarity.
• Support greater diversity and inclusion in * Increasing the range of reserved
our political representation. functions and consideration of
• Fully implement the Seanad University devolving more powers to local
Act 2024. authorities for local services.
• Support the Seanad’s role in scrutinising * Granting councillors greater input and
the transposition of EU Directives and control over the development and
Regulations into Irish law and North- implementation of the local authority
South issues. budget.
• Introduce ways to increase the level of * Rebalancing power between elected
spoken Irish used in the Oireachtas. councillors and executive officers,
to ensure that elected officials have
a right to be consulted on a greater
range of decisions and the right to
know of all other decisions in a timely
manner.
* Increasing the accountability of the

Strengthening Chief Executive and Directors of

Services to councillors for executive

Local decisions.
* Enhancing fiscal autonomy.

Democracy * The timely reporting of the National

Oversight and Audit Commission
(NOAC) and engagement with public
Local Government is the beating heart of representatives.
our democracy. It is responsible for many * The proportion of local authority
of the essential services on which we members to population.
depend – housing, local roads, planning, * Strengthening the framework and

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Programme for Government

powers of Municipal Districts and people with disabilities in communities.

Area Committees. • Ensure additional family-friendly
* Support frameworks for Councillors measures to enable a greater diversity
to carry out their duties drawing from and gender participation at local
the Moorhead report. government level.
* On a regional, phased basis, establish • Expand the Gaeilge365 local authority
town councils in large towns to language innovation programme, as
provide a focal-point for raising pioneered by Dublin City Council, to all
concerns of towns and coordinating local authorities nationwide, ensuring
town-focused activities. local authorities significantly increase
• Explore the feasibility of providing public opportunities for people to use the
funding to support local government Irish language and function as a growth
representatives in their work. engine for the bilingual society we aspire
• Increase the number of mandatory to build.
meetings between local authority • Continue to support the Age Friendly
officials and Oireachtas members to Ireland national office to roll out the Age
twice yearly. Put in place timeframes Friendly strategy.
within which queries from Oireachtas
members and members of the public
should be responded to. NOAC will be
requested to oversee and report on
performance of local authorities in this
area.
• Enhance the mechanisms in place
to allow local authority members
to hold management to account. In
addition, explore ways to provide more
comprehensive access to financial
information, including a full account from
the local government auditor to elected
members.
• Launch a new political participation
campaign to support and promote
greater numbers and diversity amongst
those competing for elected member
roles in local authorities.
• Ensure fairness and stability in Local
Property Tax payments and continue to
retain revenue collected locally in the
same local authority.
• Support the office of the Directly Elected
Mayor of Limerick and consider further
plebiscites in Dublin and other cities.
• Support the rollout of the Regional
Women’s Caucus Network across all
local authorities.
• Ensure that local authorities fulfil their
responsibilities to ensure the inclusion of

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151
Functioning of
Government
Programme for Government

Functioning
of Government

Functioning of Formation of Government Party

Government
leaders will agree a revised set of
government departments and ministerial
responsibilities before the formation of
the Government, which will take place on
In order to ensure the efficient and effective 22 January 2025, if all relevant ratification
operation of the new Government, it is procedures have been completed by the
essential to set out at the very beginning parties by that date.
our commitments concerning the spirit
in which we will work and the specific Following agreement on the division of
structures and timings which will ensure ministerial roles between parties, each
that there is clarity on both the day-to-day party leader will be solely responsible for
and long-term operation of the government. nominating his party’s representatives.

Building on learnings from the operation of

previous governments, we will restructure Rotation of Taoiseach and
elements of shared government work and Nomination of Government
set out our commitment to ensure that a
constructive and cooperative approach The nomination of the Leader of Fianna Fáil
defines the work of all members of the and the ministers proposed by him will be
Government. supported by all parties and TDs supporting
the government.
We understand the critical need to ensure
that Government has the space to consider The Leader of Fianna Fáil will hold the
and develop policy in a way which respects office of Taoiseach from that point until 16
the need for confidence and free discussion November 2027. On that date, he will offer
and commit ourselves to the basic principle his resignation to the President and all
of avoiding the use of external pressure parties and TDs supporting the Government
to seek advantage over Government will support the nomination of the Leader
colleagues or to influence ongoing of the Fine Gael party. Nominations for
discussions. membership of Government by the new
Taoiseach will, again, be the responsibility
of the relevant leaders. Any alteration to

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 Functioning of Government

ministerial responsibilities will be subject to Intergovernmental Conference with or in lieu

agreement. of the Taoiseach and shall be the Taoiseach’s
replacement at summits where the
Taoiseach is unable to attend. The Tánaiste
Election Date will take Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on a
Thursday.
All parties and groupings party to the
Government understand the need to ensure The Office of the Tánaiste will consist of:
stable and effective government during
the full term of this Dáil. This Government a. A private office; and
will deliver five Budgets. It is agreed that b. A policy and programme implementation
the General Election will be called no unit which shall assist the Tánaiste
sooner than after the enactment of the in work relating to cabinet, cabinet
principal measures to be announced in the committees and oversight of the
Budget in late 2029. While respecting the implementation of the Programme for
constitutional role of the Taoiseach in this Government.
mater, a decision to call an election on a
date will be agreed between party leaders. The Tánaiste shall nominate the Deputy
Government Press Secretary and the
Department of the Taoiseach will provide
Office of the Tánaiste protocol services to the Tánaiste where
these do not relate to his Departmental role.
In order to ensure coordination and
openness within government the Office
of the Tánaiste will be retained within the Oher Supports
Department of the Taoiseach and based in
Government Buildings. Policy coordination and support resources
will be made available to others who
We are conscious of the distinct support the Government.
roles performed by the Taoiseach
in representational, parliamentary,
constitutional, European Union and
international matters and will respect these
in day-to-day matters.

The Office of the Tánaiste will be

independent of the ministry that the
Tánaiste holds. It shall consist of established
and non-established civil servants in line
with the Public Service Management Act
1997, who may be appointed from outside of
the Department of the Taoiseach and shall
be in addition to the current staffing of the
Department.

The Tánaiste shall attend meetings of

the North South Ministerial Council, the
British Irish Council and the British Irish

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Programme for Government

Cabinet Committees and If there is an issue of concern to any party

Government Co-Ordination or grouping, the Government Co-Ordination
Committee Committee is the forum for its resolution.

A refocused system of cabinet committees

will be a central to the policy development Other Cabinet Committees
and oversight work of the new Government.
A reformed structure of cabinet committees
All parties to the new Government will be established within 30 days of the
understand that cabinet committees are a coming to office of the new government.
key part of providing a forum for reflective
and open discussion. They are subject to
the full provisions of the Cabinet Handbook Cabinet Agenda
and relevant constitutional and statutory
provisions. No item shall appear on the Cabinet Agenda
without the prior knowledge of each party
In order to focus discussions more leader. This shall include memorandums
effectively, officials will be requested to introduced by the Minister for Finance
concentrate more of their contributions in and Minister for Public Expenditure,
the preparatory groups and attendance shall Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and
be subject to the agreement of the party Digitalisation.
leaders.

Programme for Government delivery

Government Co-Ordination
Committee A Programme for Government Office will
be established in the Department of the
A Cabinet Committee comprising the Taoiseach to monitor the implementation
Taoiseach and Tánaiste and, where required, and delivery of the Programme for
ministers relevant to matters being Government.
discussed, shall meet regularly.

In addition to the party or group leaders, Ongoing Cooperation

the Secretary General to the Government
shall attend save for political discussions, We agree that it is important to find a
as shall nominated advisers to the party reasonable balance between the different
leaders. priorities of our parties and the need to
work effectively and with confidence within
This meeting will have three standing items. government. This requires good faith and
there should be no public discussion of
1. To review the activity of cabinet Government policy until there is agreement.
committees.

2. To review the agenda for that week’s

cabinet meeting.

3. To discuss political priorities; and

156
 Functioning of Government

Government Departments

Government departments will be

reconfigured, as agreed by the party
leaders, to ensure greater policy coherence,
programme implementation and a fair
division of labour and responsibilities.

Ratification of Programme for

Government

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agree to put

this draft Programme for Government to
their respective parties for ratification in
accordance with their own rules.

157
Programme for Government

158
Functioning of Government

159
Programme for Government

160
Functioning of Government

161
Programme for Government

162