The programme for government is a sprawling 162 pages covering the incoming coalition’s plans for every department and policy area across the next five years. But what jumps out?
Climate
The government has recommitted to a 51 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and to publish an annual climate plan.
On retrofitting, the programme for government commits to “ramping up targets” to deliver more B2 equivalent home retrofits each year from 2026 to 2030 – although actual targets are not contained in the document.
The programme commits to fast-tracking offshore wind development by prioritising the publication of Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs).
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The document says the parties will allow data centres that contribute to economic growth and efficient grid usage, such as prioritising waste heat capture for district heating systems and other local uses.
As expected, the government will also continue with the planned carbon tax increases.
Rural Ireland and ‘thriving communities’
There is a commitment to support 50:50 balanced population growth between the Eastern and Midland region, and the Southern and Northern and Western regions combined.
The Government is to invest in all road projects in the current NDP “and consider additional important road projects as part of the NDP review.”
There will be increased funding for new roads and the maintenance of existing roads.
There’s a commitment to continued upgrading of the bus fleet and work to act on the recommendations from the All-Island Strategic Rail Review “to improve connectivity across the island of Ireland”.
There will be a widening of the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Affairs to include the Gaeltacht.
There is to be an expansion of Local Link bus services in rural areas.
Trade, defence and foreign affairs
Trade policy goes to the Department of Foreign Affairs while the programme pledges to progress the Occupied Territories Bill.
A further €1 billion is pledged for the Shared Island Fund.
The programme promises to protect Ireland’s neutrality while reforming the triple lock and to co-operate with international partners on security, military procurement and undersea defence.
The new government will prepare a revised national security strategy and review military intelligence structures, improve Defence Forces pay, enhance radar capacity and upgrade military transport fleet.
Children and childcare
The programme for government commits to “progressively” reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the National Childcare Scheme.
The document states that capital investment will be provided to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists.
There is also a pledge to “explore” making available an extra hour of ECCE each day in the second year of preschool.
As previously promised, the National Childcare Scheme will be expanded to childminders working in the family home “with sensible regulations that fit home-based care”.
Enterprise, the economy and public finances
The government commits to creating 300,000 extra jobs by 2030.
On data centres, it says the incoming coalition will recognise the “central role” they play in contributing to economic growth, that they will ensure “efficient grid usage” and that waste heat capture for district heating systems and other uses “is prioritised”.
It promises to ratify the CETA trade agreement.
The document says the government will bring forward measures for the small business sector, including changes to VAT, PRSI and other measures as part of the budget process.
It pledges to assess all elements of labour market policy that ‘impact on the viability of SMEs’.
On multinational investment and export overseas, it promises a new IDA Ireland five-year strategy and to target at least half of IDA investments outside Dublin.
For consumers and workers a potential splitting of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is hinted at, arising from an independent review of its role.
In light of energy cost pressures, it promises to bring forward taxation measures to help contain these costs, including with regard to VAT.
If there is an economic downturn, it promises to maintain capital spending, postponing changes to income tax credits or bans, and to work to protect public service delivery.
On financial services, it promises to introduce a “right to be forgotten” for cancer survivors in the insurance market
In tourism, the programme commits to a new version of 2013′s ‘The Gathering’ tourism initiative, labelled the Year of the Invitation, as well as a new national tourism policy
Education
On education, the programme for government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools, while it will also “aim to” reduce the general pupil teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the next five years. A workforce plan for the education sector will be developed, while the minor works scheme payment for schools will be increased. There is also a promise to “establish a new DEIS Plus Scheme to support schools with the highest level of educational disadvantage to improve educational outcomes, particularly in literacy and numeracy”.
The government is also promising to increase the number of special schools and special classes, hire more special education teachers and special needs assistants, and double the number of college places for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and any other specialists that are needed.
In higher education, the programme commits to reducing the student contribution fee “over the lifetime of the government”.
Agriculture
On Agriculture and Food the programme promises to increase some support schemes and continue a range of income supports while reviewing payment rates on others.
On the nitrates derogation, it promises to do “everything within its power” to make the case in the EU for retention.
It promises to “stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal” – and to “accelerate work” in opening up new markets for Irish food products.
It will assess the requirement for an additional veterinary education college, while committing to re-establish a minister of State for fisheries and the marine.
Transport
On transport, there is a plan to progress “all key public transport infrastructure in the National Development Plan and consider new public transport projects in the review of the NDP”.
It adds that there will be an increase in funding for new roads, in addition to those in the current National Development Plan.
The document also commits to rolling out contactless fare payments on all public transport. In a nod to Fianna Fáil demands, the programme for government commits to setting up a “transport security force” under the National Transport Authority, which would operate and have similar powers to the Airport Police and Customs officers.
On aviation, the government will “work with stakeholders to achieve our objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport as soon as possible”.
Health
On healthcare, a number of promises are made, including: Reducing waiting times so that all patients are seen within the Sláintecare target of 10 and 12 weeks; increasing capacity by between 4,000 and 4,500 new and refurbished inpatient hospital beds across the country; increasing ICU bed capacity by at least a further 100 beds; building four new elective hospitals
Justice and policing
The Department of Justice will subsume home affairs and migration from elsewhere in an expanded department.
At least 5,000 new Garda members are to be recruited over the next five years.
The Garda Training College at Templemore will be expanded and the government will consider the establishment of a second training college.
The introduction of live FRT in cases of terrorism, national security, and missing people, “with strict safeguards” is included in the document.
On crime in the community there is to be a new Rural Safety Strategy and support for An Garda Síochána to expand approaches to tackling rural crime.
There is to be a ban on the wearing of face coverings at protests and the government will ask the Joint Oireachtas Committee to consider a ban on protests outside private homes.
The government promises to ensure gardaí have sufficient powers to tackle the misuse of E-scooters and scramblers.
The document commits to “a health-led approach to drug addiction and to divert those found in possession of drugs for personal use to health services”.
The Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use is to be re-established and the Departments of Health and Justice are to “work collaboratively on any recommendations issued by the Committee”.
A new prison is to be built at the Thornton Hall site in North Dublin.
The passing of the Defamation Bill will be “a priority”.
In relation to national security the document commits to retaining the Special Criminal Court.
It will bring the National Centre for Cyber Security and the National Security Authority under the remit of the Department of Justice “to ensure proper alignment of national security infrastructure”.
Disabilities
On disabilities, the government has promised to publish and fund a new National Disability Strategy, “setting out a vision to 2030”. A “national implementation and monitoring committee” with enhanced political oversight will be set up to ensure the delivery of the strategy.
There are also promises to increase investment in adult day services, increase personal assistance hours, and increase disability home support hours. The programme for government also promises to expand the network of autism one-stop shops and to legislate to place an autism strategy on a statutory footing. Home care hours and the housing adaptation grant will be increased.
Housing
The programme promises a new national housing plan to succeed the former Housing for All plan.
The programme commits the government to capitalise the LDA out to 2040 and increase its housing delivery targets to 300,000 homes by the end of 2030, strengthen its CPO powers and to accelerate State lands transfer suitable for homes into the LDA.
It is promising a new “starter home programme” to deliver an average of 15,000 starter homes per year, driven by expansions to the First Home scheme, which will now include second hand homes, and the Help to Buy support.
It promises an average of 12,000 new social homes annually and to review the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector.
For renters, it promises to progressively increase the rent tax credit and to help renters seeking to buy with “a series of targeted measures through the tax system and the First Home scheme”.
Vacancy and dereliction grants will be extended to 2030.
It promises to “continue to support one-off rural housing”.
Social protection
The State pension age will be maintained at 66. Weekly pension payments will be “progressively” increased. On carers, the government has promised to “significantly increase the income disregards for carer’s allowance in each budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the government”.
A permanent annual cost of disability support payment will be set up. The plan commits to exploring a “targeted child benefit payment”.
Migration
The programme promises “a fair but firmer system” for migration.
The government is to introduce a new International Protection Act to implement the EU Migration and Asylum Pact
New domestic legislation will be enacted in 2026 to provide for faster processing of applications, stronger border security, and a more efficient returns system.
There is to be a move away from the emergency use of hotels for housing towards putting in place facilities for those seeking protection on State land.
There is a pledge to ensure meaningful consultation with local communities and plan more effectively for delivery of increased public services.
There will be “stronger border security, including increasing the collection of fingerprints and photographs from new arrivals, enhancing our ability to verify identities”.
There is a commitment to ensure applicants are provided with accommodation with restrictions on their movement to ensure the integrity of the process.
There will be more staffing at every stage of the International Protection System.
There is a commitment to ensure anyone convicted of a serious crime can be rapidly removed from the jurisdiction.
There will be support for applicants or unsuccessful applicants to return to their own jurisdiction.
Charter deportation flights will be used when necessary.
Responsibility for international protection accommodation and integration is to be returned to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Sport and the Arts
There is a promise to assess the Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme “to maximise its impact”.
There is to be increased capital investment in national arts infrastructure through the review of the National Development Plan.
There’s a commitment to continue tax breaks for film production but also “examine options to introduce sector specific measures for the visual effects sector”.
This government will examine the introduction of a “culture card” for 16 and 17-year-olds to access theatre, music and art events.
In sport the government will promote at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children of all abilities.
It will consider measures, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, to encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise.
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