Tánaiste Joan Burton has unveiled a series of election pledges if the Labour Party is returned to government.

Among the pledges in Ms Burton’s keynote speech to the Labour Party’s national conference in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was a promise to give first-time housebuyers a helping hand if the party won another term.

Ms Burton said Labour would introduce a “save to buy” scheme, which would give first-time buyers a cash top-up when saving for a deposit for a home.

The scheme would involve a top up of €1 for every €4 saved, subject to a cap of €1,200 over five years.

Ms Burton said that Labour had proven its commitment to sound public finances, from Ruairí Quinn's achievements as minister for finance in the 1990s to Brendan Howlin today.

Ms Burton said: “A prosperous economy is central to any effort to create a decent society. But prosperity, by itself, won’t create that decent society.

“We must manage the economy to serve the needs of the community. Ensuring a decent standard of living for workers is essential.

“So over the lifetime of the next government, we’ll work to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. And we’ll continue our reform of the tax system to make it fairer.

“We’ll start by abolishing USC on the first €72,000 of individual income. We’ll do that because, after the crisis we’ve come through, low- and middle-income workers need more take-home pay.

“We’ll ensure the wealthiest in society continue to pay their fair share.”

She said that Labour’s fair tax plan would mean that for every €1 in tax reductions, €3 would be invested in the services that the State’s families and communities need.

Social housing

She said Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly would chop housing waiting lists by building high-quality social houses for those who need them.

On the issue of childcare, Ms Burton said: “For parents with young children, Labour has a radical but affordable plan to reduce the cost of childcare over the next five years to €2 an hour. So every child has the best possible start in life.”

She said Labour would ensure more people received the care they need in their own communities through a national network of primary care centres.

“We’ve already ensured that free GP care is a reality for every child under six and every adult over 70.

“Our plan is to extend free GP care to everyone, so that families will never again have to worry about the cost of going to the doctor.”

Pensions

Ms Burton said that she had protected the State pension through the worst of times, and increased it as soon as the State had the money to do so.

“Labour will use the strong economy to annually increase the pension by at least €5 a week. It’s the very least our older people deserve.”

Ms Burton said that Labour entered Government in 2011 to end the worst economic crisis the country had ever known.

“The true test of any government is whether it leaves our country in a better place.

"Fianna Fáil inherited a boom and blew it. Labour, with our coalition partners Fine Gael, inherited a ruin and rebuilt it.

“But the people did the hard yards. And that extraordinary effort - that extraordinary sacrifice - is paying off.

"In 2011, we were in deep crisis. Now we have the fastest growing economy in Europe. "

She said the benefits of the recovery were visible, with 135,000 new jobs, higher take-home pay as a resulf of the USC reductions, an increase in the minimum wage, a new tax credit for the self-employed and increased child benefit.

“Stability is vital. The worst mistake we could make now is to squander our hard-earned progress by gambling on uncertainty. With the party who caused the crash and the party who would have made it worse. We know who they are.”

She said building a decent society required a careful balance.

“The balance that ensured Labour in Government strengthened workers’ rights in the teeth of the worst recession we’ve known.”

Marriage referendum

The Tánaiste said that due to the result of the same-sex marriage referendum, every Irish child would grow up knowing their country accepts them.

"I was never prouder of the Labour Party than on that joyful Saturday last May. I was never prouder of Ireland.

“But the journey to create a modern Ireland is not over.

“Some time ago, I spoke with a woman whose unborn baby had been diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality.

“That baby was much wanted, much loved - but had no chance of surviving to term.

“In such tragic circumstances, some women will wish to see out their pregnancy. Some will not, and it’s not right that our answer is to send them abroad.”

She said that Labour, if returned to power, will deliver a referendum on the Eighth Amendment in the next government.