A future to Look Forward to

Taoiseach’s Foreword

Our economy has never been stronger. There are more people at work than ever before, incomes are rising, poverty is falling and the public finances are back in order. We have a deal on that ensures no hard border, citizens’ rights will be protected and the will remain in place. The Northern Assembly and Executive have reconvened. However, it’s not enough. Brexit is not done yet. It’s only half-time. The next step is to negotiate a free trade agreement between the EU, including Ireland, and the that protects our jobs, our businesses, our rural and coastal communities, and our economy. Progress on health and housing is gathering momentum. I meet people every day and I know the worry, frustration and concerns around the pace of progress in health and housing. In this manifesto we lay out our plans to build on what has been done, with a particular focus on home ownership and universal healthcare. An improving economy and the careful management of our public finances, along with the sensitive stewardship of the upcoming Brexit trade negotiations, will enable us to drive that momentum and provide more houses, more hospital beds, more nurses and Gardaí, deliver climate action, and drive tax reform. We’ve been able to make good progress, but I know it’s not enough. I want us to do much more. I want people to start feeling the growing strength of our economy in their pockets – I want people to see it in their payslips and in their towns and parishes. In this manifesto we set out our plan for fairer taxes – for future jobs and for rural Ireland - to put that right. This manifesto outlines what stands for: • The Best Team for Brexit • A Better Deal for Families • Fairer Taxes • Real Climate Action • More Frontline Gardaí • Backing for First Time Buyers • Reform of our Health Service It has been a privilege to lead this country as your for the last two-and-a-half years. Thank you for that honour and for your trust in me. On Saturday 8th of February I seek a fresh mandate so we can continue to build a better future. A future we can all look forward to. We have the team. We have the track record. We have the plans.

Leo Varadkar Leader Fine Gael

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 1 Réamhrá Ó Cheannaire Fhine Gael, An Taoiseach Ní raibh ár ngeilleagar riamh níos láidre. Tá níos mó daoine ag obair ná riamh roimhe, tá teacht isteach ag ardú, tá an bochtanas ag dul i léig agus tá cúrsaí airgid poiblí in ord arís. Tá beart againn maidir le Brexit, a chinntíonn nach mbeidh teorainn chrua ann, go gcosnófar cearta saoránach agus go mbeidh an Comhlimistéar Taistil ann fós. Tá Tionól agus Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann tagtha ar ais le chéile. Ach ní leor sin. Níl Brexit déanta fós. Níl ann ach leath ama. Is é an chéad chéim eile comhaontú saorthrádála a idirbheartú idir an tAontas Eorpach, Éire san áireamh, agus an Ríocht Aontaithe, comhaontú a chosnóidh ár bpostanna, ár ngnólachtaí, ar bpobail faoi tuath agus ar an gcósta, agus ár ngeilleagar. Tá an dul chun cinn maidir le sláinte agus tithíocht ag bailiú nirt. Buailim le daoine gach lá agus tá a fhios agam faoin mbuairt, frustrachas agus ábhair imní atá ann faoi an dul chun cinn maidir le sláinte agus tithíocht. San fhorógra seo leagaimid amach ár bpleananna chun tógáil ar a bhfuil déanta, le béim faoi leith ar úinéireacht tí agus cúram sláinte uilíoch. Le geilleagar atá ag feabhsú, agus cúrsaí airgid á mbainistiú go cúramach againn, chomh maith le maoirseacht íogair ar an idirbheartaíocht trádála Brexit a bheidh ar siúl go luath, cuirfidh sin ar ár gcumas dúinn an neart sin a bhrú chun cinn agus níos mó tithe, níos mó leapacha ospidéil, níos mó altraí agus Gardaí a chur ar fáil, gníomhaíocht aeráide a chur i gcrích, agus athchóiriú cánach a bhrú chun cinn. Bhíomar in ann dul chun cinn maith a dhéanamh, ach tá a fhios agam nach leor é. Táim ag iarraidh go ndéanfaimid i bhfad níos mó. Táim ag iarraidh go dtosóidh daoine ag brath ina bpócaí neart fásmhar ár ngeilleagair – táim ag iarraidh go bhfeicfidh siad é ina nduillíní pá agus ina mbailte agus ina bparóistí. San fhorógra seo leagaimid amach ár bplean le haghaidh cánacha níos cothroime – le haghaidh postanna amach anseo agus d’Éirinn faoin tuath – chun sin a chur i gceart. Tugann an forógra seo breac-chuntas ar an méid a seasann Fine Gael ar a shon: • An Fhoireann is Fearr le haghaidh Brexit • Beart Níos Fearr do Theaghlaigh • Cánacha Níos Cothroime • Gníomhaíocht Cheart Aeráide • Níos Mó Gardaí sa Líne Thosaigh • Tacaíocht do Cheannaitheoirí Céaduaire • Athchóiriú ár Seirbhíse Sláinte Pribhléid a bhí ann a bheith i gceannas ar an tír seo i mo Thaoiseach agaibh le dhá bhliain go leith. Gabhaim buíochas libh as an onóir sin agus as bhur muinín ionam. Dé Sathairn an 8 Feabhra táim ag lorg mandáid úr ionas gur féidir linn leanúint ar aghaidh ag tógáil todhchaí níos fearr. Todhchaí lenar féidir a bheith ag dúil. Tá an fhoireann againn. Tá an taifead againn. Tá na pleananna againn.

Leo Varadkar Ceannaire Fhine Gael

2 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Contents

1. Half-time in Brexit: Fine Gael protecting the interests of all people on the island of Ireland, North and South...... 5 2. Ireland – an island at the centre of the world and at the heart of ...... 7 3. Northern Ireland and the future of our shared island...... 12 4. Implementing Sláintecare...... 14 5. Helping parents to give their children the best start in life...... 21 6. Ensuring that work pays...... 24 7. An Ireland where nobody is left behind...... 28 8. An Ireland where everyone is equal...... 32 9. A first-class education system...... 35 10. Preparing for the jobs of tomorrow...... 41 11. Responsible management of the public finances...... 48 12. Ensuring that every part of Ireland prospers through Project Ireland 2040...... 52 13. Rural Ireland’s voice at the heart of Government...... 55 14. A vibrant agri-food sector...... 58 15. Our golden years guarantee...... 64 16. Providing more homes without repeating the mistakes of the past...... 66 17. Protecting our environment and moving decisively towards a zero-carbon future...... 72 18. Protecting our Ocean Wealth...... 79 19. Security and in modern Ireland...... 81 20. A Strong Defence Force...... 86 21. A sporting and active nation...... 89 22. Enhancing our culture and ...... 90 23. Growing the use and enjoyment of the ...... 94 24. Wellbeing and security in the digital age...... 98 25. Continuing political reform...... 100

26. Budgetary assumptions and costings...... 103

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 3 Helen McEntee Candidate for Meath East

4 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Half-time in Brexit Fine Gael protecting the interests of all people on the island of Ireland, north and south

• The right team The next phase of Brexit on behalf of the EU and with Phil • The right relationships On 31 January, the UK will leave the Hogan, a former Fine Gael Minister, • The right strategy EU. But, this does not mean that who, as Trade Commissioner, will • The right results for Ireland. ‘Brexit is done’. have a central role in negotiating the free trade element of the future Fine Gael has worked tirelessly to The standstill transition arrangements relationship. protect the interests of all people on expire at the end of this year. Within the island of Ireland, north and south, that timeframe, a new long-term We need the experienced Fine Gael since the United Kingdom’s Brexit relationship between the EU and the team, led by Leo Varadkar, Simon referendum in 2016. We have had a UK must be negotiated and ratified. If Coveney and Helen McEntee, to very clear set of objectives: it does not prove possible to negotiate continue their work in agreeing the and agree a favourable relationship, we future relationship with the UK. Now • Protecting the Peace Process risk the imposition of tariffs and quotas is the time for vigilance. Changing the • M aintaining the Common Travel on trade between Ireland and the UK. team at this point would set us back. Area and reciprocal rights between Such a failure would result in significant The EU will shortly agree a mandate Ireland and Britain and long-lasting consequences for for the Future Relationship • Ensuring Ireland’s place at the many sectors of our economy. negotiations, which will cover vital and heart of the (EU) The next phase of Brexit will be just as sensitive areas for Ireland, ranging • Agreeing the closest possible challenging as the first. from trade in goods and services to future relationship between the UK fisheries, security and connectivity. The capacity to do everything else This is a short timeframe and it and Ireland/EU. that needs to be done – health, is imperative that the cohesive Through intensive engagement with housing, climate action, tax reform – whole-of-Government approach our EU partners, we have made depends on achieving a deal by the successfully deployed heretofore sure that Ireland’s concerns were end of this year. should continue and ensure that understood. The revised withdrawal Ireland is as well-prepared and agreement meets all our objectives, The right team positioned going forward as it has including protecting the Good Fine Gael is a member of the been until now. Friday Agreement, avoiding a hard largest and most influential political border on the island of Ireland and grouping in Europe: the European Future relationship protecting the integrity of the Single People’s Party (EPP). We have built We will work for the closest, deepest Market and Customs Union and up unbreakable bonds with key actors and broadest possible relationship Ireland’s place in them. This puts in the Brexit process – with political with the UK. We want an ambitious, Ireland in the best possible position leaders such as , who zero-tariff, zero-quotas free trade for it to face the challenges ahead. will continue in his role as negotiator agreement, with a level playing

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 5 field in terms of standards, state aid, workers’ rights and environmental protections. Other priorities will include cooperation in the areas of justice and security, fisheries, transport connectivity and continued participation of the UK in EU programmes. The British Government has been clear that it will not extend the transition period into 2021. That means for a new trade deal to come into effect from 01 January 2021, it must be negotiated and agreed by the end of November 2020. We will keep a laser-like focus on the negotiations in the crucial months ahead, to ensure that Ireland’s interests are protected and prioritised.

Protecting the Peace Process Protecting the Peace Process will continue to be at the forefront of programme in the context of a no- dealing with concerns over possible our approach to Brexit. This includes deal scenario. disruption to the UK Landbridge. We the protection of the Good Friday will ensure that any changes are well We will seek a PEACE PLUS communicated with stakeholders, Agreement and the gains of the programme for Northern Ireland and Peace Process, maintaining EU to ensure that all involved remain the border counties worth up to €1 properly informed throughout. support for the Peace Process, billion, as part of the EU Multiannual increasing and deepening North- Financial Framework (MFF) We have engaged with businesses South cooperation and ensuring negotiations. We will also seek to and helped them to mitigate the risks there is no border infrastructure of continue to include Northern Ireland of Brexit through the €300 million any kind on the island of Ireland. and Wales in Interreg. Future Growth Loan Scheme and the Implementation of the Protocol on €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme. Ireland and Northern Ireland is a key And, we stand ready to do a lot more, Prepared for Brexit as the exact form of Brexit takes priority for us. The Specialised and The UK Government’s self-imposed shape. Joint Committees of the EU and the deadlines mean that the risk of a UK will be making important decisions cliff-edge scenario remains, with In Budget 2020, we announced a on the protocol’s implementation and significant consequences for package of over €1.2 billion for 2020, Ireland will need to engage closely British-Irish trade. We are faced with excluding EU funding, to respond with these processes, to ensure the starkly varying scenarios: from a to Brexit. This will remain in place, successful bedding down of the new comprehensive and balanced Free ready to be implemented, if a new arrangements from an economic and Trade Agreement, to a bare-bones long-term relationship fails to be political point of view. Free Trade Agreement, to no future agreed. We will use this money to Fine Gael will work to ensure that relationship agreement at all. While assist the Agriculture, Enterprise and people in Northern Ireland continue we are confident of our ability to Tourism sectors, to fund extra Social to enjoy access to EU rights, secure a deal, we must prepare for Protection spending for those on the opportunities and benefits into the the worst-case scenario. Live Register and to assist people in transitioning to new employment future. We have made commitments We will continue to upgrade our opportunities. in respect of access to the benefits of ports and airports with the required the European Health Insurance Card infrastructure and work with Fine Gael believes that these and progressed bespoke legislation businesses to prepare for different supports will be sufficient but stands in the , as well as working scenarios. This will include supports ready to do more, depending on how on solutions for the Erasmus+ for the most impacted sectors and Brexit unfolds in the coming months.

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Ireland – an island at the centre of the world and at the heart of Europe

Committed to the Strengthening our Fine Gael will continue to forge strong European Union (EU) relationship with the UK alliances with other Member States Fine Gael is the party of Europe. after Brexit with which we share common goals Following a vote of party members, We recognise that we need to rebuild and interests. ‘Europe and Openness’ was added to and re-imagine our relationship our Party’s values – the core beliefs with the UK. This will be a priority for Doubling Ireland’s impact around which we base our policies Fine Gael over the coming years. Fine Gael has an ambition to and ideas for the future. Europe has We will establish an ambitious new double Ireland’s impact in the always been, and will continue to be, structure to facilitate high-level world by 2025. This has involved a interwoven with Fine Gael’s policies. bilateral cooperation between Ireland whole-of-government effort, with the reinvigoration and expansion Our place at the heart of the most and the UK after Brexit. This could of Ireland’s embassy and agency powerful grouping in European involve top-level summits between network, a deepening of its worldwide politics – the EPP – has stood to the Taoiseach and the British Prime cultural links and a massive step-up in us throughout the Brexit process. Minister, meetings of respective how it funds its official development These relationships matter and will senior ministers and ongoing official assistance (ODA) to the world’s most stand to us in the crucial stages of engagement. For example, this impoverished people. By enhancing Brexit yet to unfold. could be an enhanced British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference Ireland’s global impact, we will ensure We will ensure that Ireland is not (BIIGC) or a new body modelled on that we play our part in shaping the defined by Brexit. the Nordic Council. kind of world in which we want to live. At a time when some countries Fine Gael will undertake a full review We set out this agenda in Global are turning inwards and choosing of Ireland’s future relationship with Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to nationalism ahead of multilateralism, the UK within six months of being 2025 (Global Ireland), which we are the EU must step up and returned to office. Having opened a fully committed to implementing. demonstrate the power of shared consular office in Cardiff, we will open Since its launch in June 2018, 10 decision-making. As Ireland is a global a new mission in northern England new diplomatic missions have been island, we believe that multilateralism and look to further enhancing our established, including embassies strengthens, not diminishes, our footprint in London and Edinburgh. in Wellington, Bogotá, Amman, diversity, our self-confidence and our Santiago and new consulates general security. Ireland and the EU must play Building new alliances in Vancouver, , Cardiff, Los its part in shaping together the kind Angeles and Frankfurt. New embassies of world in which the people of Ireland within Europe will open this year in Kyiv, Manila and In a post-Brexit EU, we will have lost want to live, rather than having us live Rabat. Given the movement of global the UK as an ally on many key issues. in a world shaped by others. economic power east and south,

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 7 Candidate for Kildare South Candidate for Cavan we are placing a priority on ensuring far on respective priorities, mutual Championing a new EU- that Ireland expands its footprint and interests and shared goals. Africa partnership impact in Asia and Africa. This priority A much more intensive and is manifested in the recent Africa Bringing together our meaningful EU-Africa partnership is Strategy (November 2019) and Asia- embassies and state required, if we are to deal effectively Pacific Strategy (January 2020). agencies in ‘Ireland House’ with our shared challenges. Fine We believe that more of our missions Gael will move beyond the traditional Securing a UN Security abroad should use the ‘Ireland focus on aid towards building new Council Seat House’ model, whereby all state multifaceted partnerships with A decade ago, when Ireland lost agencies such as Enterprise Ireland a young, swiftly growing African its economic sovereignty, our (EI) and Bord Bia – and government continent. We will work to establish international reputation was at its departments – are brought under a new political structure to facilitate lowest ebb since independence. the one roof. This co-location much closer political cooperation Over the past nine years, Fine Gael in encourages joined-up thinking, and two-way investment between government and the have increases efficiencies and offers a the two continents, reflecting rebuilt that reputation. better service to citizens. the breadth of challenges and opportunities we will face over the Under the leadership of the coming decades. Tánaiste, , Ireland A ‘Green’ Department of has campaigned heavily to win a Foreign Affairs seat on the United Nations Security Coupled with the Irish House Ready to recognise the Council for the 2021-2022 term. model, we want to transform the State of Palestine We are competing with Norway and Department of Foreign Affairs into Fine Gael stands ready to recognise Canada, and the election will take a ‘Green Foreign Ministry’. Building the State of Palestine, if and when we place this summer. Winning this on the example of other countries, believe it would be helpful in achieving seat would enable Ireland to bring its such as France, we will reduce the a free, sovereign, democratic and perspective to bear on some of the carbon footprint of foreign affairs sustainable Palestinian State, or if it most important questions relating activity. This will involve more advances the peace process in that to international peace and security. teleconferencing and the close direction. It is through multilateral The campaign has also given us an measurement of the department’s engagement and maintaining open opportunity to engage and build worldwide carbon footprint. lines of communications that Ireland relationships with countries near and can act most effectively on these

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issues. The relentless settlement bridge to the US, acting as a strong Supporting globalisation expansion and related activities in advocate for free trade, as well as and liberalisation of the West Bank, including the forced closer economic and cultural ties international trade across the Atlantic. We shall seek removal of Palestinians from their Through new and existing EU trade to lead within the EU on creating a homes, is critically damaging the deals we will expand Ireland’s export common transatlantic approach viability of a future Palestinian State, options into new and emerging to data protection, privacy and the and we will continue to speak out global markets. At a time when protection of intellectual property. internationally to condemn further there is a rise in protectionism expansion plans and to do all we can to internationally, we are clear in our support the two-state solution. Strengthening our support for free trade. As we increase our Overseas relationship with the Therefore, we back EU efforts to Development Assistance (ODA), diaspora negotiate new and additional free- we will also increase our funding to Fine Gael will develop a new policy and fair-trade agreements, alongside UNWRA (United Nations Relief and and strategic approach to improving ongoing talks with Australia and New Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) linkages with the 70 million-strong Zealand, while defending our high over the next five years. UNWRA is Irish diaspora overseas, including standards and preventing unfair essential to the delivery of healthcare, the publication of a new diaspora trade practices. We believe that we education and humanitarian relief strategy in 2020. We are also must seek to progress negotiations and social services, including food committed to holding a referendum on a trade deal with the US, without assistance, to more than 5 million on extending the franchise at lowering EU standards. Palestinian refugees. It is imperative presidential elections to Irish citizens that donors should have confidence in living around the world (see Political We are committed to carrying out UNRWA and the organisation must be Reform section for more detail). a full economic and sustainability shown to be operating in a transparent assessment of the headline EU/ Fine Gael will continue to support way to the highest standards of Mercosur trade agreement, to inform Irish citizens in the US by working governance. future action on the ratification on a bipartisan basis on Capitol of this deal. We will work with EU Hill to (i) establish new pathways Building on our deep colleagues throughout the lengthy for legal migration by Irish citizens legal refinement process, sparing relationship with the USA to the US and (ii) find solutions no effort to ensure that Ireland’s The Irish and United States (US) for undocumented Irish citizens interests are prioritised, maximising economies are closely intertwined, to regularise their status. We will protection for the agriculture sector. with 150,000 people employed in continue our extensive outreach Ireland by US companies and 70% in support of an E3 Visa Bill, of foreign direct investment (FDI) which, if passed, would offer new Providing protection to into Ireland originating from the opportunities for Irish citizens to live those who seek and need it US. In the other direction, more and work in the US. As a strong and active member of than 100,000 people are employed the international community, Ireland in Irish enterprises located across Increasing Overseas has obligations to those fleeing the US. Policy, taxation and trade Development Assistance persecution and war in conflict zones changes may present obstacles in and oppressive regimes around Fine Gael is committed to increasing the years ahead, but we will work the world. We have also provided our ODA Programme. We are to strengthen and deepen that sanctuary to those fleeing the targeting a spend of 0.7% of gross relationship culturally, diplomatically harrowing violence in Syria and other national income (GNI) on ODA by and economically. We are committed war-torn regions, through the Irish 2030. This will be a huge challenge – a to the ambitious expansion of our Refugee Protection Programme. trebling of our current commitment. It diplomatic, enterprise and cultural We have sought to show will require cross-party commitment footprint in the US, as outlined in to fellow EU Member States at the across the Dáil. We have made solid Global Ireland, and in our dedicated frontline of the migration crisis. We progress since the publication of strategy for the US and Canada, will continue to play our part in the Global Ireland, with allocations to ODA published in February 2019. EU’s response to meeting the needs increasing by €131 million, or 18.5%, of asylum seekers and refugees and In the context of the UK leaving the over the past two budgets. develop longer term expert-informed EU, we will position Ireland as the EU’s

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 9 strategies to ensure that we are moving towards an independent living rising demands for international equipped to meet future challenges. model in all Centres: protection. These centres reflect our new standards with own-door, • We have worked with stakeholders, self-catering accommodation. We will Speedy decisions on including key non-governmental develop new models of community asylum requests organisations (NGOs) to develop engagement to ensure that the The most important initiative we a set of standards for centres and establishment of new centres is can take for those seeking asylum in these new standards are being done in an inclusive and welcoming Ireland is to ensure that their cases rolled out across the country are dealt with compassionately, fashion. • We have ensured that service users fairly and quickly. By ensuring that have access to the Ombudsman decisions are made quickly, we can A better long-term and Ombudsman for Children allow people in genuine need of approach asylum to commence their new lives • We have transposed the EU We do not believe that the current here with the necessary supports. (Recast) Reception Conditions model is fit for purpose for the long- We will streamline application forms Directive, which provides a wide term. for applicants in consultation with the range of rights for international The State has asked the former National Adult Literacy Agency. protection applicants, including the Secretary General to the European right to work where a first-instance Commission, Catherine Day, to decision has not been reached Standards in direct chair a small expert group to identify within nine months. provision centres international best practice in the Significant progress has been made provision of services to applicants in improving services to applicants New Direct Provision for international protection and to for international protection in recent centres and community consider future migration trends. years. Following The McMahon Report: engagement The group will complete its work late The Working Group on the Protection We have opened new Direct Provision in 2020 and we will respond speedily Process and Direct Provision, we are Centres in recent months to address to its recommendations.

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Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 11 Northern Ireland and the future of our shared island This is a shared island, with a shared future. We want to shape that future together for the benefit of all our people. New Decade, Our vision for the island of Ireland embraces all identities, New Approach religions and minorities. We have always been about building Fine Gael has worked intensively in talks at relationships and bringing communities and people together. Stormont to support the leaders of the political Our vision aligns with the aspiration parties in finding an agreement that will restore of ‘ in all social and economic activity, the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity’ We believe that the new deal represents a fair and and fully for same-sex couples and lesbian, gay, balanced package, with four key elements: bisexual, and transgender (LGBTI+) people across the island. • Transforming Public Services and Investing in Our vision harnesses the potential of the entire island of the Economy – to deliver better public services, Ireland, where students move freely around the island, where a stronger economy and a fairer society patients access high-quality healthcare and where trade flows smoothly. Thousands of people cross the border each • Better Politics and Sustainable Institutions – to day. These are people running a business, going to work, ensure that Northern Ireland never goes three going to university, visiting family or accessing public services. years without an Executive again As our approach to Brexit has shown, we will always protect • Language and Identity – offering a new cultural the facilitation of this movement. framework with a Commissioner to protect Bunreacht na hÉireann affirms our national aspiration for and enhance the Irish language and a further territorial . Fine Gael, the Party, shares that Commissioner to develop the language, arts aspiration, based on the principle of consent and a majority, and literature associated with the Scots/ north and south, being in favour. Ulster British tradition Calls for a border poll at this time, which are not properly • Petition of Concern – reforming the petition of thought through, are only likely to exacerbate division and concern to bring it closer to its original role, as uncertainty. Fine Gael will continue to work to build consensus conceived of the Good Friday Agreement, and across political parties and civic society – both north and as a means of building consensus. south – on the most appropriate way to maintain and Northern Ireland is facing real challenges, but also strengthen relationships on the island of Ireland. Fine Gael exciting opportunities. We hope that this new deal is committed to maintaining the all-island civic dialogue in marks the beginning of a decade of real and lasting the context of Brexit but also as a useful structure to discuss progress. future challenges to relationships on the island of Ireland.

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Cross-border to renewed viable air routes from university with campuses in Derry and collaboration on public to Belfast and to Derry, . services and key working with the UK Government and infrastructure Northern Ireland Executive. All-island school exchange It makes sense on an island the size programme of Ireland to collaborate across a Cross-border greenways In line with the New Decade, New range of public services and on key The border should not act as a Approach agreement, we will build infrastructure projects. Fine Gael barrier to building on the enormous on the success of the recent pilot believes there is huge potential to potential for greenways. We will programme of bringing pupils from improve connectivity across the build on greenway projects, such as schools from north and south of island of Ireland – by road, rail and air. the Sligo-Enniskillen Greenway, to the border and from Nationalist and deliver sustainable tourism and other Unionist traditions together to meet, In line with the New Decade, New enterprise potential. discuss issues of mutual concern Approach Agreement, we will look to and visit sites of significant shared quickly progress key infrastructure Developing the potential historic relevance. We will expand projects such as the A5, the Narrow the scheme over the lifetime of the Water Bridge and the Ulster Canal of the North-West Fine Gael will step up investment in next Government with a target of connection from Clones to Upper achieving 100 such cross-border Lough Erne. Fine Gael will ensure that Letterkenny and Derry and the wider North-West region, in conjunction engagements per annum within a the Irish Government delivers on five-year programme. its funding commitments to these with the Northern Ireland Executive projects, including a total of £75 and the British Government. We million up to 2022 for the A5. welcome the UK Government’s Addressing the legacy of announcement to invest up to £105 the past High-speed rail million in Derry and the North-West, As announced in conjunction with through the Derry and Strabane City New Decade, New Approach, we have We are very supportive of examining Deal and the Inclusive Future Fund. reaffirmed the Irish Government’s the feasibility of a high-speed rail commitment to working with the connection between Belfast, Dublin, We believe that Derry has enormous UK Government to support the Junction and Cork, creating potential to become a major centre establishment of the Stormont a spine of connectivity on the island. for higher education. It could open House Agreement legacy institutions As set out in Project Ireland 2040, we up educational access for young as a matter of urgency. This will ensure that this feasibility study people on a cross-border basis, commitment includes introducing the will start as early as possible in 2020. enable further cooperation between higher education institutions in the necessary implementing legislation in the Oireachtas, to deal with the Enhanced air connectivity North-West and bolster economic development opportunities. Fine Gael legacy of the Troubles and to support We strongly support opening up is committed to exploring new joint reconciliation, meeting the legitimate new air routes between north and funding opportunities to significantly needs and expectations of all victims south. We will establish a review of expand the university campus in and survivors. the potential for government support Derry and, perhaps, a cross-border

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 13 Implementing Sláintecare We have a plan to deliver affordable, quality healthcare to all

Fine Gael has made the decision to and 4,500 community beds medical cards and GP visit cards to reform fundamentally the Health • Provide 80 additional Primary take account of wage inflation Service Executive (HSE), bringing Care Centres and community • Increasing the threshold for medical power back to local communities diagnostic facilities cards for people over 70 back to through six new Regional Health • Develop three elective hospitals in 2012 levels Areas. Dublin, Cork and • Abolishing in-patient hospital As part of our plan for a fairer, better • R ecruit 3,840 primary care charges for children health service we will: workers, with recruitment of • Ex tending discretionary medical • Provide more health services in the 1,000 by the end of this year cards to those with a terminal community, so that people get a • Expand diagnostics services and illness good range of care close to home increasing to access to radiology • Extending a free dental-care services in the community. package to children under 16, in • Increase bed capacity and staff line with our oral health policy Smile numbers, so that hospital care can agus Sláinte be provided in a timely manner Reforming the HSE We will continue to reform the HSE • Introducing baby boxes for all new • Promote healthy lifestyles to and give greater decision-making parents. support people staying well and powers to local areas. This will give We will also negotiate with general living longer, healthier lives. frontline workers a greater say in the practitioners (GPs) about a package delivery of subsidised visits for adults using Funding Sláintecare of healthcare. the PRSI system similar to Treatment It is clear that our health service is Benefit (dental/optical). not currently the right size or shape The next steps towards to meet the needs of our growing Universal Access to and ageing population. Through Investing in health Sláintecare, this change can be Healthcare facilities planned, managed and implemented, We will take the next steps towards Under Project Ireland 2040, we are and Fine Gael is making a long-term universal access to healthcare by: doubling investment in healthcare financial commitment to deliver it. • Extending free GP care to all infrastructure and equipment from children under 18 €5 billion in the last 10-year period to By 2025 we will be investing an • Extending free GP care to carers in more than €10 billion in the current additional €5 billion per year to period. resource our health service, to deliver receipt of the Carer’s Support Grant our ambitions and to protect our • Further reducing prescription Between now and 2021, we will spend population as it ages and grows. charges more than €2 billion on 250 projects • Reducing the Drug Payment across the country, providing 480 Sláintecare in action Scheme to a maximum of €75 a new beds, 58 community nursing month units, and new investment in mental We will: health and disability projects in the • Increasing the income limits for • Provide 2,600 extra hospital beds community.

14 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

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Primary care should be the first point providing a modern forensic mental Supporting healthcare of contact with the health service, health service, with proper and timely workers where all our health and social care intervention. Since Leo Varadkar became services, including GPs, a public health In 2020 we will decide the locations Taoiseach, health sector staff nurse or the services of therapists are in Cork, Galway and Dublin for three numbers have increased by almost available close to home. Already, 129 new hospitals specialising in reducing 5,000, including over 600 hospital primary care centres are open and we waiting lists and progress these doctors and over 1,000 nurses. will deliver a further 80 new primary projects as quickly as possible. care centres. Over the lifetime of the next Fine We will also provide new radiation Gael Government, we will recruit We will open the new National oncology facilities in Cork, Galway and 5,000 additional nurses. We will Children’s Hospital in 2023, Dublin in 2020. continue to implement the recent supported by two satellite centres, Nursing Agreement, which includes one of which is already open at Through the Design and Dignity additional measures to assist with and a second to Programme, in association with the the recruitment and retention of open in 2020 at Tallaght Hospital. Irish Hospice Friendly Hospitals, a nurses into the public health service. renovation and renewal of eleven As set out in the National Maternity We will work to further advance the mortuaries across the country has Strategy – Creating a Better Future nursing and midwifery professions, to been funded. We will deliver further Together 2016-2026, work will provide more clinical autonomy and capital projects in hospitals throughout continue on the replacement of responsibility and raise them to the the country. standalone maternity hospitals by level of therapists, in terms of pay relocating the National Maternity We will continue to increase funding and conditions. Hospital to St. Vincent’s University for the National Ambulance Service We will also engage with Hospital, the Coombe Hospital to so that we can increase capacity and radiographers, paramedics and St James’s, the expand Community First Responder healthcare assistants on how their to Connolly, and Limerick University schemes, working in conjunction with roles can be developed. Maternity Hospital to University the Dublin Fire Brigade, Hospital Limerick. and Irish Community Rapid Response. This year, we will commence the We will provide new ambulance bases recruitment of 1,000 frontline In 2020, we will open the new and in Galway City, Mullingar, Cork, Limerick staff, including public health nurses much-needed forensic mental and Ardee and upgrade ambulance and allied health professionals health services hospital in Portrane facilities at St Joseph’s Hospital, such as occupational therapists, Co.Dublin, a state-of-the-art facility Stranorlar, Co Donegal. physiotherapists, dementia advisers

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 15 and speech & language therapists. for the care and dignity provided Reducing the cost of We want more staff working in our to patients and service users in our medicines community and this is the first step communities. We have established a We will establish a National Medicines on that journey. Dialogue Forum, with an independent Agency, promoting national chair, to build a stronger working We have concluded a new contract prescribing to reduce the cost of relationship between the State and the with GPs, investing €210 million medicines, to set a fair price for drug voluntary healthcare sector for the to sustain vital services in our reimbursement and to speed up benefit of those accessing these communities, particularly for out of the reimbursement of new drugs, services. hours services and in rural areas, while including those for rare diseases. ensuring that general practice remains This agency, in conjunction with an attractive option for medical A more compassionate the Health Products Regulatory graduates. health service Authority, will also examine We have introduced mandatory opportunities for Ireland to extend We have commenced the roll out open disclosure of serious patient the number of clinical trials taking of a Chronic Disease Management safety incidents and established an place here. Programme, delivering structured independent Patient Safety Council. care to patients via their local We are implementing a National doctors, thereby improving health We will accompany this by the Biosimilars Policy to help patients to outcomes and reducing the need for introduction of a supports package access cheaper medicines. Fine Gael hospital admissions. to be automatically offered to those in Government delivered the last affected by patient safety incidents Framework Agreement on the Supply As part of this agreement, a strategic at the same time as being given open and Pricing of Medicines in 2016 and review of GP services will commence disclosure and an apology. will deliver a new one in 2020. in 2020, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services We will introduce a no-fault We will continue to collaborate for everyone into the future. compensation scheme for those with international colleagues, impacted through vaccination via the BeNeLuxA initiative, to We will increase the number of GP programmes. deliver sustainable access to training places to 300 by 2025 and innovative medications through the We will continue to fully implement support GP practices through a collaboration of smaller countries. multi-million euro fund, as part of the recommendations contained in revised contractual arrangements. Dr Scally’s Reports of the Scoping Inquiry, the MacCraith Review and Hospital car parking We will also begin talks this year with the report of the Royal College of charges our pharmacists on a new contract Obstetricians and Gynaecologists We will cap the maximum daily charge and enhance the role of pharmacists into CervicalCheck. for patients and visitors at €10 for all in the delivery of healthcare. hospitals. Flexible day/pass/multi- We will now, on a phased basis, hire Improving access to care entry passes will be introduced in all only consultants who are committed through the National hospitals to patients and their families. to working in public hospitals. Under our proposals, the number of Treatment Purchase Fund Fine Gael has dramatically increased Implementing national consultants will increase by 1,000 funding to the National Treatment health strategies over the next 10 years. It makes Purchase Fund (NTPF), reducing Fine Gael in Government has sense to begin this change now, to the time that patients wait for produced a new National Cancer provide for an ageing population. By common hospital operations and Strategy, Trauma Strategy, National making this change, we will: procedures. In 2020, there will be Dementia Strategy and Ireland’s first • Establish better access to care, a significant focus on ear, nose National Maternity Strategy. based on medical need and not and throat (ENT), orthopaedics, From the new financial commitment ability to pay dermatology, ophthalmology, urology that we are making to the Irish • Deliver better public hospital care and gynaecology, as well as scopes, health service, we will have a • Add capacity diagnostics and children’s waiting lists. ring-fenced fund for these vital national strategies, and fund the • Reduce waiting times Under Fine Gael, the NTPF is now investing in the public health service. implementation of the Neuro • Ensure better value for public Rehabilitation Strategy. money. Fine Gael will reform the NTPF and develop it into a National Treatment In line with the Cancer Strategy, We owe a debt of gratitude to all those Access Fund. This will allow us to treat we will establish a National Cancer working in our voluntary organisations more patients in the community. Research Group to ensure that

16 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to cancer clinical trials constitute a core Infrastructure Network (ECRIN). Recognising the increasing public activity of cancer centres, with a As a member our researchers now health challenges posed by obesity, stable funding mechanism. have access to a wider patient base we will work with key stakeholders and expertise from across Europe. to introduce a Public Health Obesity We will continue to support Membership increases the ability of Act, including examining restrictions the CervicalCheck Screening people in Ireland to be part of research on advertising aimed at children. Programme, implement a primary on rare conditions. HPV testing programme from We are committed to protecting the early 2020, as well as continuing to We will enact the National Research nation’s health and wellbeing through promote uptake of the HPV vaccine. Ethics Committee Bill proving for the immunisation, infectious disease establishment of a National Office for control and continued support for our By the end of 2021, we will complete Research Ethics Committees, and the screening programmes. Fine Gael has the extension of BreastCheck to age urgent establishment of a National established a National Vaccine Alliance 69 and provide for the expansion of Research Ethics Committee in the area supported by a broad range of medical BowelScreen to all aged 55-74. of Clinical Trials (of Medicinal Products), professionals. Having already allocated We have established a National will deliver an effective and coherent €500,000 to promote its work, we will Screening Committee and tasked national model which will benefit those continue to invest in the alliance. it with reviewing our newborn conducting and participating in trials. Fine Gael will act on the advice screening programme in line with We will establish a National Genetics of the Health Research Board best international evidence. We will and Genomics Medicine Network on mandatory vaccination and act on its recommendations. to develop effective governance implement its recommendations. Under the National Cancer Strategy, arrangements recognising the We will ban the sale of nicotine- we will put in place a fund for local interdependence between corporate, inhaling products, including cancer support services that are financial and clinical governance e-cigarettes, to people under 18 years providing vital assistance to people across the service and ensure the and a licensing system for the retail living with and beyond cancer. delivery of high quality, safe and reliable sale of nicotine-inhaling products. healthcare. We will also curb the advertising of A plan for rare diseases these products near schools, on public We will work with stakeholders and A healthier Ireland transport and in cinemas. patient representatives to publish Healthy Ireland is our national action an updated National Rare Diseases plan to help people live healthier and Public health approach to Plan, with agreed prioritisation of longer lives. tasks and clear implementation substance misuse timelines. The most recent Healthy Ireland There is a difficult balance to be Survey demonstrates good progress struck to help people who use drugs, We will continue investment in in reducing the prevalence of smoking, while continuing the relentless pursuit staff and equipment at the medical citing the introduction of plain of drug dealers. Through ongoing genetics service in Our Lady’s packaging as good motivation to quit. implementation of the National Drugs Children Hospital, Crumlin, which Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting provides services for patients and We will continue to increase the excise duty on tobacco in the Recovery, in partnership with the families affected by, or at risk of, a statutory, community and voluntary genetic disorder. years ahead to further discourage smoking. We will also bring in sectors, we will reduce crime and Sláintecare recognises that research, a targeted taxation regime to rebuild lives. in particular clinical trials, are key specifically discourage ‘vaping’ and By promoting health supports, to improving prevention, diagnosis ecigarettes diversion programmes and and treatment of diseases. Over rehabilitation we can reduce the €150m has been invested in clinical The implementation of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act will be demand for drugs and access to illegal research infrastructure and supports drugs. This will be matched with key over the last decade, providing for instrumental in reducing harm from excessive alcohol consumption. law enforcement strategies to protect the establishment of state-of-the- people from the harm of illegal drugs. art clinical research facilities on the We will honour our longstanding campuses of hospitals, clinical trials commitment to introduce Minimum We will support secondary schools to networks and Clinical Research Unit Pricing at the same time as its introduce drug and alcohol awareness Coordination Ireland (HRB-CRCI). introduction in Northern Ireland, programmes building on recent to ensure that cross-border price initiatives at junior and senior cycle We ensured Ireland’s membership differentials do not undermine its to ensure that our young people European Clinical Research effectiveness. leave secondary school with an

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 17 understanding of the consequences the roll out of the PrEP programme. counselling supports and talk of drug and alcohol misuse. therapies in the community As part of the National LGBTI+ We will work with our Drug and Inclusion Strategy 2018-2020, we • Strengthen Multidisciplinary Alcohol Task Forces in identifying will ensure accessible community- Community Mental Health Teams local need in communities, and based services and supports across as a cornerstone of service delivery will support targeted initiatives to the country, improve training for in secondary care address drug and alcohol misuse. health and social care professionals • Provide a comprehensive specialist and develop a communications plan mental health out-of-hours service We want to reduce the number of to raise awareness of mental health for children and adolescents in all lives lost through overdose and will resources. geographical areas open a pilot medically supervised injecting facility in Dublin City to bring We will implement a best practice • Ensure that Speech & Language those who openly inject drugs into model of care for Trans people, in Therapists are core members of a safe environment where they can line with the World Professional CAMHS Teams access health supports and make Association of Transgender • Pilot out-of-hours Crisis Cafes as communities more secure. Healthcare (WPATH) standards of a new referral option, providing care. access to talk therapies, coping We are expanding services for strategies and one-to-one peers in pregnant and post-natal women We will deliver a framework for the a supportive environment affected by substance use, and their development of National Gender children. Clinics and Multidisciplinary Teams for • Promote social prescribing as an children and adults. effective means of linking those We are committed to developing with mental health difficulties to health and social interventions based The refreshed Vision community-based supports and on an inclusion-health approach to interventions target people who are homeless and for Change • Ensure better alignment between in addiction. We know that mental health service users are among the most vulnerable the Department of Education Many people in addiction also suffer people in Ireland. For this reason, the and Skills, the Department of with mental illness but struggle mental health budget is now over €1 Justice and Equality and the to access appropriate care. We billion a year, an increase of 17% since HSE on primary/post-primary will progress the National Clinical 2017. These increases have provided schools, mental health services Programme for Dual Diagnosis and for a range of mental health services, and supports such as National work to develop joint protocols and including an increase in Child and Educational Psychological Services referral pathways. Adolescent Mental Health Services (NEPS), GPs, primary care services We will not be complacent about the (CAMHS) Teams, the appointment and specialist mental health dangers of drugs and will continue of assistant psychologists and services to resource harm reduction and psychologists in primary care and an • Promote positive mental health education campaigns aimed at increase in Jigsaw services. and wellbeing among the working increasing awareness of the risks age population, by building on Since the publication of A Vision for of drug use and the contribution of existing initiatives in the workplace Change – Mental Health and Suicide drugs to criminality. Prevention, there have been significant • D evelop a dedicated National Many families with members changes and improvements in our Mental Health Promotion Plan suffering addiction feel abandoned mental health service, but there • Implement a National Stigma- and are unsure where to turn for is much more to do, to develop reduction Programme, aimed at advice and assistance. We will appropriate and accessible mental reducing stigma and discrimination establish a 24-hour helpline based health supports at community and for those with mental health on the FRANK helpline in the UK. primary care levels. difficulties. We will fully implement and resource We will establish an overarching Improving sexual health a refreshed Vision for Change and use National Implementation and Fine Gael will deliver free a ‘stepped care’ approach, ensuring Monitoring Committee to drive contraception over a phased period, that each person can access a range of these measures, monitor progress starting with women aged 17-25. options of varying intensity to match overall and ensure delivery on the commitments. We will produce a new Sexual Health their own needs. Strategy, invest in sexually transmitted Under this refreshed approach, we will: We will continue to support the infections (STI) clinics and continue expansion of Jigsaw services in the • Increase access to a range of community.

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Drogheda and Cavan, and a further inpatient unit is planned for the Midlands. We will continue to support Community Specialist Palliative Home Care Teams in all HSE areas, fund designated home care packages and resource specialist palliative care provided in Section-39 acute hospitals. We are increasing resources for the Children’s Palliative Care Programme supported by consultants with a special interest in children’s palliative care and children’s outreach nurses to coordinate care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. We will publish a new Palliative Care Policy for Adults by mid-2021, to As recommended by the Youth Mental to incrementally raising the income update the 2001 policy to reflect Health Taskforce, we will invest in thresholds for medical cards for the many developments in end-of- age-appropriate, digital youth mental people over 70. life care and better interface with health supports, ensuring that all Children’s Palliative Care. We want to make home care a young people have access to an active statutory right. This will mean no Funeral poverty occurs when the listening service and signposting tool. matter where people live, or what they cost of a funeral exceeds a person’s We will continue to develop the range do, they will have a right to homecare. ability to pay. It is a big concern for of e-mental health initiatives, including many people at a very stressful time. We will fund 1 million additional hours tele-counselling, tele-psychiatry and this year and will deliver an additional There are other economic a Crisis Text Line, as alternatives to 1 million for every year that Fine Gael consequences to bereavement traditional service mechanisms. is in office. We have already increased arising from poor physical and Connecting for Life is Ireland’s national funding to the Fair Deal Scheme to emotional health outcomes and strategy for suicide prevention; it has maintain the waiting list at four weeks the need to take leave after a delivered considerable progress and and we will implement the revised bereavement to recover or care for is well regarded internationally. We will Fair Deal arrangements for farmers other family members. extend the timeframe and funding to and business owners, following the We have partnered with the Irish build upon the success of the strategy, passage of relevant legislation. Hospice Foundation to carry and to implement further actions. out research into the cost of We are committed to establishing End-of-life care bereavement and funeral poverty in PathFinder, a cross-governmental Fine Gael wants to protect the high Ireland. This research will inform our youth mental health team with standards of palliative care that so work to eliminate funeral poverty and participation from the Department of many have received from our voluntary indicate what further interventions Health, the Department of Education hospices and are committed to or supports the State can provide and Skills and the Department of equalising funding for statutory and to alleviate any hardship associated Children and Youth Affairs. voluntary hospices. We have increased with loss and bereavement, e.g. the the number of specialist palliative care restoration of the bereavement Older people beds countrywide by 50% in the last grant. five years and will increase the number Fine Gael has prioritised the supports by a further 50% over the next five that older people need and deserve. Improve organ donations years, ensuring that there will be a We have continually reduced the We will enact the Human Tissue hospice serving every region in the cost of prescription charges for Bill, providing the legal basis for an country. We are opening new units in older people and these reductions opt-out system of organ donation Mayo, Waterford and Wicklow in 2020. will be of significant assistance to transforming organ donation in this Plans are underway to build units in people over 70. We are committed country.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 19 Protecting women’s Candidate for health Galway West There is now an increased focus on women’s health issues, together with greater scrutiny of women’s experiences of health care, and it is incumbent upon us to act. We have established a Women’s Health Taskforce, to develop a Women’s Health Action Plan as a first step, in responding to gender inequality and to meet women’s expectations for their care. We will continue to increase funding to the National Maternity Strategy, to support recruitment and training of additional key midwifery and medical staff, to provide access to dating and anomaly scanning in all maternity units and to implement the supported care pathway across the maternity network. We will publicly fund fertility treatment in 2021. Starting this year, with a €2 million fund to assist men and women with fertility problems, we will enact the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, regulating in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and surrogacy. Often, barriers to women’s healthcare can be improved by ensuring that services are more joined up. We will establish one-stop clinics for women to access cervical screening, sexual health checks, contraceptives and menopause care. Tackling health care in disadvantaged areas. We are Ireland repealed the Eighth disadvantage already providing €2 million annually Amendment of the Constitution Those most in need of healthcare are to be set aside to provide additional so that women can legally access often the least likely to receive it. It is support to practices in deprived urban abortion care in their own country. seen in everything from higher rates areas. We will establish a Delivering We will introduce Safe Access of smoking, a lower uptake of cancer Equality of Opportunity in Schools Zones, to ensure that they can screening and longer waiting times to (DEIS)-type programme for health, access these services without see specialists to higher rates of illness providing GP practices, community impediment. and lower life expectancy among pharmacies and public health staff people from poorer backgrounds. with dedicated additional resources to communities. We can change this by targeting investment in preventive and primary

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Helping parents to give their children the best start in life

The importance of the Parents of children up to age 12 can Fine Gael has doubled the number of first five years now avail of unpaid leave of up to 22 children benefitting from subsidies, The first five years have a weeks. This will increase to 26 weeks in doubled the number of places fundamental impact on the type of September 2020. and doubled the free pre-school (ECCE) scheme through a significant person we become. A happy and From the end of last year, parents investment. healthy start in life – one that provides of new-born children are entitled to children with positive nurturing an extra two weeks’ paid leave each, In 2019, 175,000 children received influences – is vitally important. Our which can be taken at any time in average subsidies of €64 per week. children deserve the best start and the first year of their child’s life. This More than 9,000 children are receiving opportunities in life, to fulfil their is welcome for parents, but it is not the highest weekly subsidy of €145. potential. enough. Therefore, over the next five Over the next five years, we will years, we will extend parental leave by With Fine Gael, there have been many invest an extra €400 million, as we a further seven weeks. This means positive developments for young reduce childcare costs for parents that in 2025, parents will each have an children in recent years – paternity and increase quality and accessibility. individual entitlement to nine weeks leave, free GP care for those under This will bring annual investment in of paid parental leave in the first year 6, a second year of free pre-school childcare to more than €1 billion in of their child’s life. This is in addition to and the introduction of subsidised 2025. childcare. There is more planned. their existing maternity and paternity entitlements. This funding will be used to increase the thresholds and the subsidy Extending paid parental rates of the new National Childcare leave Reducing Childcare Costs We know the pressures parents are Scheme over the next 5 years. It will The most important thing a parent allow many more parents benefit and can share with their children is their under because of childcare costs. We have made progress – increasing it will reduce the costs they pay for time. Fine Gael is prioritising initiatives their childcare. This scheme is fair – it to ensure that parents can have more investment from €265m in 2015 to €638m for 2020, up 141% - but we ensures those who need most, get time with their children. We introduced most. paternity leave and and have also know people are still paying too much. brought in additional maternity leave We will reduce childcare costs further, Under Project Ireland 2040 for the mothers of premature babies. increase quality and support the investment in Early Years capital childcare sector. infrastructure will increase. The focus

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 21 of this will be to ensure more childcare Supporting the Childcare Flexible working places for parents to access, and Sector arrangements childcare of a high quality. Whilst helping parents to reduce the We will work with employees and The universal pre-school programme cost of childcare is a priority, so too employers to bring in flexible working provides children with 15 hours per is ensuring Ireland has a new funding across the work-force. Flexible week of pre-school education across model for the Early Learning and working encompasses a wide range of 38 weeks per year. Since September Care sector that is sustainable, high practices including part-time working, 2016, children qualify for two years quality and attractive to work in. We remote working, compressed hours, of universal pre-school. Fine Gael is want those running services and working from home and job sharing. committed to increasing the Early those working in services to make a A labour market that offers flexible Childhood Care and Education fair income, have a successful career working solutions can result in a win for (ECCE) scheme to 42 weeks per year in childcare and be able to plan ahead. employers, workers and society alike. over the course of the next five years. We therefore support the work of Fine Gael is pursuing this initiative, We will also increase the capitation the Expert Group considering a new which will assist in retaining talent and rate on this scheme. funding model for Early Learning and balancing family commitments. Care and School Age Care. Centre-based care has evolved rapidly, in terms of policy, while We value and appreciate those caring Supporting breastfeeding childminding has remained at the for children. They are the bedrock of Fine Gael supports the target of a margins of funding and support. Fine the sector and their retention is key to 2% annual increase in the number Gael will work with childminders to ensuring greater quality. of new mothers’ breastfeeding in publish a Childminding Support and maternity hospitals and primary care We will support the establishment centres, with support from increased Inclusion Plan that will give parents of a Joint Labour Committee in the access to subsidies to reduce their access to lactation specialists and childcare sector. A childcare JLC will public health nurses. We will prioritise childcare bill, increase quality, choice be able to draw up an Employment and ensure greater recognition for areas of social disadvantage and Regulation Order, which would where there are low breastfeeding childminders and their profession. We determine minimum rates of pay for will work with childminders and their rates. For those wishing to extend childcare workers, as well as terms breastfeeding beyond six months, employers to ensure they benefit and conditions of employment from additional funding over the next Fine Gael supports the extension of five years. As part of the First Five Strategy, work paid breastfeeding/lactation breaks has commenced on a new Workforce or paid reduction in working hours We will incentivise after-school Plan to improve career development for breastfeeding mothers from 26 services in schools or community opportunities, attraction and retention weeks to 104 weeks. hubs to offer a range of education- initiatives that keep talented and and family-focused measures, committed staff within the sector. We Parenting supports and including physical education (PE), will seek to expedite this plan. homework clubs and speech & positive parenting Many parents would like more language therapy. We recognise the additional administrative and financial burden support and information about child increased regulations places on a development and parenting practice Inclusive childcare small business. We will streamline that can be put into everyday use. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) regulatory requirements whilst We are committed to the delivery of helps childcare providers to offer their continuing to improve quality. more easily-accessible online and care and services to children with class courses that offer advice and additional needs. Fine Gael is wholly guidance to parents. committed to its full implementation. Transparency in Childcare Parents want to be told if there is For children aged 3-5 years with a serious regulatory problem with Family diversity a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum their childcare provider. Fine Gael is Ireland has a diverse range of Disorder (ASD), early intervention committed to ensuring that Tusla has family structures and Fine Gael has classes are available to provide early the necessary resources, manpower established a process to advise on support before primary school. and legislative support to ensure a the legal recognition of all types There are currently 130 ASD Early transparent reporting structure for of parents, so as to ensure that all Intervention Classes and we are parents and guardians. families have true equality in the eyes committed to investing further in this of the State, as they do in the eyes of facility. their fellow citizens.

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Tusla living in emergency accommodation A New National Tusla plays a critical role in improving and we will continue to prioritise Framework for Children the wellbeing and outcomes for finding them permanent and Young People: Better children. Its work is invaluable, accommodation. The causes of homelessness are complicated Outcomes Brighter but there are weaknesses which Futures (BOBF) Fine Gael is determined to fix. but are linked to the collapse of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: We are committed to the full our house-building sector and the The National Policy Framework for implementation of Tusla’s Action severe supply shortage associated Children and Young People 2014-2020 Plan on the Recommendations of with it. The steps we are taking (BOBF) is our strategy to make Ireland the HIQA Statutory Investigation to rebuild our housing sector are a good place to be a child and a young into Tusla’s Management of Referrals making a difference, and we will do person. We will build on the successful (June 2018). This includes the everything that is possible to tackle implementation of BOBF in the next implementation of its Workforce Plan, homelessness. National Policy Framework for Children and the management of referrals and We are committed to delivering and Young People, in recognition that retrospective cases. homes for all families experiencing any new strategy must have specific homelessness and continuing to and measurable targets, with clear Free GP and dental care provide the necessary supports to accountability and time frames. We for children keep them in sustainable tenancies will consult closely with stakeholders, See the ‘Implementing Sláintecare’ through agencies, including the including NGOs, in advance of chapter. HSE, Tusla and the Department publishing our new strategy. of Employment Affairs and Social Youth mental health Protection. services We will continue to extend Youth Supporting parents Mental Health services, including through the loss of Jigsaw, which is free to access and a child does not require GP referral. The loss of a child is an incredibly tragic event. We will support Children in emergency parents through this difficult time accommodation by introducing a new bereavement Children, in particular, suffer assistance for two weeks for both educationally and emotionally from parents.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 23 Ensuring that work pays Fine Gael believes in making work Candidate for pay. Our policies promote work Cork North West over welfare

A fair income tax plan We will raise the USC exemption between workers, employers, A decade ago, we saw how giveaway threshold from €13,000 to €20,500 pay increases and protection of budgets undermined the public so that people on low incomes like employment levels. full time minimum wage workers, low finances. So, we have consigned the In order to mitigate any unintended paid part-time workers and people days of income tax give-aways on impact on jobs or small businesses in receipt of modest occupational Budget Day to history. Our income tax as a result of any future increase in pension are no longer in the USC net. plans are affordable and fair: the minimum wage, we will ensure The average full-time wage in Ireland is The minimum wage will be €10.10 that any increases are always €47,596. However, people start paying from 01 February 2020, which accompanied by an appropriate the top-rate of tax at €35,300. This represents the sixth increase since adjustment to employers’ PRSI. is deeply unfair. As people’s wages Fine Gael has been in Government. increase, it is critical that the taxation When Fine Gael came into office in Working Family Payment system does not prevent them from 2011, it had been cut by Fianna Fáil We have replaced the Family Income seeing improvements in their take and the to €7.65. Supplement with the Working Family home pay by failing to keep pace with This represents an increase of 32%, Payment. This is a weekly tax-free this wage inflation. Therefore, we will during a period when inflation has payment available to employees with change the point at which an individual been 6%. children and thereby provides extra pays the higher rate of tax to €50,000 financial support to people on low pay. over the next five years. This will We believe that the Low Pay We will keep the income limits for the prevent people’s taxes increasing as Commission is the best place to Working Family Payment under review, their wages increase. make future recommendations to ensure that the families in need of in relation to the minimum wage. this support continue to receive it. The annual benefit for an average We will continue to implement its earner at the end of five years will be We will continue to support families recommendations. We believe that into the labour market and therefore just under €3,000, which will ensure the current system of setting the that tax levels keep up with projected towards greater financial security. no minimum wage works and reflects longer being welfare dependent. income growth. the right balance of interests

24 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Andrew Doyle Charlie Flanagan Candidate for Candidate for Wicklow Laois Offaly

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Candidate for Laois Offaly

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 25 Employee terms and ensure that all tips, be they cash or to the self-employed, with a view to conditions electronic, must go to the worker harnessing their entrepreneurship We would like to see improvements and not the employer. and providing a safety net, should in the pay and terms and conditions they ever need it. (such as no sick pay) in sectors Public pay deal Fairer tax treatment for the self- formerly covered by Employment Fine Gael will honour the terms of employed Regulation Orders, similar to that the current Public Service Stability Recognising the crucial role of in retail and hospitality. Low pay Agreement. We will negotiate a new the self-employed, Fine Gael and poor conditions are not just public pay deal, to commence in established, and has increased, bad for workers, they are bad for January 2021. It will be a sustainable the Earned Income Tax Credit over employers, as they result in high deal, allowing us to increase public a series of budgets since 2016. staff turnover. These conditions pay while also investing in public We will further raise the Earned are also costly for the Exchequer. services and reducing tax for low Income Tax Credit for the self- We will use the Labour Employer and middle income earners. We will employed to match the PAYE Tax Economic Forum (LEEF) to consult introduce a bargaining clause in the Credit and maintain that parity into with unions and employers on how new agreement to make progress on the future. This will benefit small Joint Labour Committees might be sectoral issues. business owners across the country, made operable again in a way that We will seek to continue to including small retailers, farmers and improves pay and conditions, without enhance public servants’ working tradesmen. undermining employment levels or conditions and career development the viability of small businesses. We opportunities, through support for Protections in relation to will complete this work by the end of greater mobility in the public services 2020. self-employment and greater opportunities for There are concerns about Fine Gael will always stand up for training, promotion, and upskilling. the incidence of ‘bogus’ self- fairness and the employment rights We will ensure that the public sector employment. We will ensure that of low-paid and precarious workers takes a leading role in supporting people are aware of their rights and – as we did with the Employment Act genuinely flexible working, as well as the protections available and ensure 2018, where we restricted zero- remote working. This will be central that there continues to be rigorous hours contracts and introduced to any new negotiations with public policing of existing law. banded-hours contracts. We will servants in relation to pay and We will also introduce new laws to ensure that employment rights conditions. further strengthen the law. This will legislation keeps pace with the include putting the Code of Practice changing world of work and its new We will ensure that any pay for Determining Employment platforms. Employees must have improvements are clearly linked to Status on a statutory basis. We rights, no matter how they work or the modernisation of work practices will also develop measures to stop who they work for. and improvements in productivity. victimisation of workers who seek a determination of their employment Protecting employees’ Backing those who back status. tips themselves It has become clear that, in a minority We recognise and value the Employment permit of establishments, workers are contribution made by the self- not being treated fairly with regard employed. They are creating jobs not reform We will establish an expert working to tips. Fine Gael is determined to only for themselves, but frequently group to consider the introduction introduce measures that will improve for so many others. They should be of gradual mobility between the situation and, crucially, have nurtured and supported. jobs for all employment permit a sound and workable legal basis. Fine Gael is creating a supportive holders through the introduction We will enact new legislation to environment for entrepreneurship, of sectoral employment permits. amend the Payment of Wages Act, including providing an income safety The working group will be required to ensure that tips and gratuities net to employees and self-employed to take labour market conditions cannot be used to ‘make-up’ or alike. This is why we have extended into consideration, to consult with satisfy a person’s contractual wages Treatment Benefit, Invalidity stakeholders, including NGOs, and and also to provide a requirement for Benefit and Jobseekers Benefit to identify a mechanism to ensure employers to clearly display, for the to the self-employed, ending the that any person with concerns about benefit of workers and customers, unequal treatment of the past. We exploitation is encouraged to report their policy on how tips, gratuities will explore the best way to extend these concerns without any adverse and service charges are distributed. Illness Benefit and Carer’s Benefit consequences. Crucially, this new legislation will also

26 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Helping those with employment schemes such as the entering and staying in employment. disabilities to achieve Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) and This is why Fine Gael is providing their employment the Ability Programme, with a view additional funding to develop and to helping people with disabilities to implement specific activation. ambitions stay in the workforce. We now have a strong network Currently, there are more than a of activation channels with Local quarter of a million people with Employment Services, Community disabilities receiving a social welfare Reducing the number of Employment and Jobs Clubs illness or disability weekly payment people who are long-term established throughout every county in Ireland. Almost half of these unemployed in the country. With these valuable are receiving Disability Allowance. Despite the number of people at supports augmented by Intreo Ensuring that people with disabilities work being at record levels, we services and JobPath, we have the are enabled to achieve their remain committed to continuing to skills and expertise in place to ensure employment ambitions is one of further reduce the number of people that we have a country in which the most significant labour market who are unemployed. everybody who wants a job can get and social policy challenges. Fine While there has been huge progress a job. Gael is committed to continuing to in reducing the numbers of people We will ensure that participants implement the recommendations who are unemployed over a year, and experiencing social exclusion or in the Making Work Pay Report, also in the youth unemployment rate, social isolation, who could benefit with measures such as fast- we cannot become complacent. We from an extended period of tracking the return to Disability or will continue to focus labour activation participation on a CE scheme, will Invalidity Pension for people where programmes at the long-term be able to do so. We will also ensure employment does not work out, unemployed and unemployed men that people who are over 62 years thereby reducing the ‘risk’ factor of and women under the age of 25. taking on employment opportunities. of age will be able to remain on a There are still a number of groups Community Employment Scheme Fine Gael will also continue to that face different barriers to until they reach state pension age fine-tune and expand targeted

Michael Ring Candidate for Mayo

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 27 An Ireland where nobody is left behind

Fine Gael believes in a society in which • Develop programmes to promote costs associated with their disability, nobody feels left out. We believe in awareness within the general public but often the extent to which this one Ireland, in which there are equal of the lived experience of, and to affects individuals is unclear. We have opportunities for all and a second support more positive attitudes already commissioned much-needed chance for everyone who needs one. towards, people with disabilities research into this important area, • Develop initiatives to improve the results of which will be used to Disability employment opportunities for properly inform the direction of future We want to empower all of our people with disabilities living in rural policy. This research involves a ‘top- children, our young people and adults, areas, including through remote down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approach and including those with special needs working options will survey over 30,000 people living with disabilities in Ireland today. or a disability, to progress, to reach • Support initiatives to facilitate their full potential, and to become full the participation of people with We will increase the weekly social members of our society. For too long disabilities in cultural and heritage- welfare payments to the disabled by in the past, society placed obstacles related activities and programmes. at least €25 over the next five years, a in the path of many of our citizens, Each year we have increased the €5 increase each year. obstacles that prevented them Health Disability Budget and we will reaching their potential. They were continue to do so. The overall budget Personalised budgets unable to receive an education, or play for health disability services in 2020 is We are committed to the a full part in their community, or be in excess of €2 billion. This represents introduction of personalised part of the work force. To change this a 32% increase on the disability budgets, improving the provision there has been significant investment budget when this Government came of services for people with in recent years. into office in 2016. In increasing the disabilities and empowering their We will: budget this will allow us to further ability to choose the supports that • Develop an implementation plan to increase much needed personal most meet their needs. We have coordinate implementation of the assistant hours and respite funding. In introduced a pilot in two phases with UN Convention on the Rights of doing so, we will ensure that we: 180 participants. At the end of 2019, Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) • Impr ove services through better users already had their budgets approved. Phase 2 will commence • Implement a consultation and implementation and collaboration in 2020. participation model, in line with the • Strengthen rights UN CRPD, to facilitate participation • Expand into new areas Implementing and funding by persons with disabilities in the • Raise awareness of the lived policy development process. Their experience of people with the National LGBTI+ and voice will be heard disabilities. LGBTI+ Youth Strategy • Implement an awareness and Fine Gael in Government will support programme for employers Better understanding the continue to implement and fund the to support the recruitment and National LGBTI+ and the LGBTI+ Youth retention of people with disabilities cost of disabilities Strategy – the first in the world – to It is well recognised that many people in employment create a safe, supportive and more with disabilities face extra living

28 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

inclusive Ireland and to improve the culturally responsive care to those workforce, have significant skills physical, mental and sexual health of from diverse ethnic, cultural and that they wish to contribute to our young people. religious backgrounds. society, and in particular to their local communities. This could be as Traveller and Roma Recognising family carers mentors or serving on the boards of Communities Family carers are the backbone of community organisations. Fine Gael We will ensure that the National care provision in Ireland. Fine Gael will ensure that this is a significant Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, recognises this, which is why it brought plank of the National Strategy for 2017-2021 is fully implemented to in free GP visit cards for carers and Volunteering we will deliver. better the lives of Travellers and Roma published Ireland’s first National people. We will conduct an in-depth Carers’ Strategy, which we will review Men’s and women’s sheds consultation with these communities, and update. We will now ensure that all Ireland is one of the world leaders in in advance of preparing a new five- those in receipt of the Carer’s Support men’s sheds, with over 400 now in year strategy. Grant are entitled to free GP care. existence across the country. Fine Gael recognises the invaluable role Health inequalities are experienced by We will increase social welfare they play in bringing people together members of the Traveller Community, payments to carers by at least €25 and tackling social isolation. We evidenced by the disproportionate over the next five years. will ensure men’s and women’s impact of chronic disease and higher We will develop a pension solution sheds are properly resourced in the mortality rates. To overcome these for carers, particularly carers coming years. challenges, we will ensure integrated of incapacitated children, that primary care services aligned with recognises the enormous value of Scheme to Support comprehensive national projects, the work carried out by them. including: National Organisations The Scheme to Support National • A Traveller Health Action Plan Senior Alerts Scheme Organisations (SSNO) funds • Accessible primary care projects, The Senior Alerts Scheme organisations that demonstrate family support programmes, encourages community support good governance and deliver counselling, dedicated public for vulnerable older people in our services that focus on poverty, social health nurses communities. Since 2016, more exclusion and equality. Fine Gael will • T argeted mental health promotion than 55,000 people have benefited ensure over €18 million is provided and suicide prevention services through the provision of alert alarms. over the next three years, to cover Fine Gael will continue to develop • Ongoing engagement the core costs of the 74 successful and enhance this demand-led between our health service and applicant organisations in the scheme and ensure that it adapts representatives of Traveller and Community and Voluntary Sector, up to changing demographics and Roma Communities, to ensure that to 2022. We have recently launched technological advancements. the health policies being provided a new Community and Voluntary deliver for the needs of these strategy and will ensure its objectives communities. Supporting volunteers are implemented over the next So much in Ireland happens due to five years. We will ensure that the housing the hard work of volunteers. The needs of the Traveller Community State should support volunteers are met by local authorities. Guided Social Innovation Fund in their work and not put undue by recommendations from the Ireland (SIFI) constraints on them. We have Expert Review Group on Traveller Fine Gael values the important work already started work on a National Accommodation, we will ensure that carried out by SIFI. We will work Strategy for Volunteering and will existing funding is fully drawn down and with SIFI to broaden its access to publish and implement it. This utilised and new resources put in place. funds from across Government strategy will set out a shared vision departments. We will work with SIFI for the future of Irish volunteering, Intercultural Health to review the 50:50 matched funding as well as how the State can help model and examine how it can have Strategy to deal with the challenges and better assurance of medium to In implementing the National opportunities that exist within long-term funding arrangements Intercultural Health Strategy 2018 volunteering today. from Government. We will consider – 2023 we will enhance access to There are also older people who, measures to further support the role services and provide high quality, while not wanting to remain in the of philanthropy in our society.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 29 Social Enterprise Tackling disadvantage Social enterprises make a valuable contribution to our social and economic in urban areas, building programmes through the creation of jobs and the delivery of a range of on the Dublin north east services in communities across Ireland. Fine Gael will build on Ireland’s inner city model first ever National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland and provide additional Although certain parts of supports to social enterprises to help them to increase their social impact. our cities are thriving, other Strengthening community development funding areas clearly need sustained While many towns and villages have bounced back economically from the investment to tackle recession, there are others in need of further targeted support. We will seek intergenerational disadvantage. to refine and build upon a range of programmes to support communities Following the Government’s throughout Ireland, as outlined in the following table: commissioning of the Mulvey Report, several million euro in funding has been allocated SICAP (social Investing €190 million between 2018 and 2022. for the social and economic inclusion and Since 2015, the SICAP has supported 150,000 regeneration of Dublin’s north- community people and 8,000 groups east inner city. We will expand activation this model to other areas programme) experiencing disadvantage over CLÁR CLÁR provides funding for small-scale the next five years. infrastructural projects in rural areas experiencing the greatest levels of population decline. Since 2016, €32 million in funding has activated 1,400 Reducing poverty and projects social exclusion Fine Gael has consistently sought to LEADER Fine Gael will launch a new LEADER Programme, protect the most vulnerable in society once negotiations with the throughout the financial crisis. We did for the post-2020 period have concluded. LEADER this by protecting core weekly social has supported 2,500 projects with funding worth welfare payments and increasing the €100 million, since 2016 minimum wage. This is in contrast to Community Since 2016, we have helped 700 projects, Fianna Fáil’s approach of cutting basic Service such as walking and cycling trails and greenway payments and cutting the minimum Programme (CSP) developments, through this scheme, with funding wage. We understand that even now, of €43.6 million. We will continue to fund the with a strong economy, too many programme in coming years people are in poverty and feel socially excluded. This is compounded by the Community The new Community Enhancement Programme unacceptable situation of children Enhancement (CEP), replacing RAPID, is designed to take a more living in emergency accommodation. Programme (CEP) flexible, streamlined and targeted approach to providing funding to communities. In 2019, the Income inequality is at its second CEP helped more than 2,000 communities and lowest level since records began community groups in disadvantaged areas. in 2004 and poverty has been consistently falling for five years. In Potential projects that can benefit neighbourhoods recent years, 40,000 children have and reinvigorate the locality with the backing of local been lifted out of child poverty. Clearly, authorities include the renovation of community progress is being made, but we know centres and amenities, improvements to town that we need to do more. In particular, parks, and CCTV equipment and energy efficiency we must be conscious of eliminating initiatives. discrimination on grounds of gender, age, family status, marital status,

30 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

sexual orientation, race, disability, Simon Harris religion or membership of the Traveller and Roma Communities. Candidate for We will implement the newly Wicklow published social inclusion strategy – A Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020- 2025 – which will: • M ake Ireland the most socially Deirdre Duffy inclusive State in the EU Candidate for • Reduce consistent poverty Dublin Central • Reduce the percentage of children at risk of poverty and social exclusion from 25% to 15% • Increase the employment rate of people with a disability to 25% in 2021 and 33% by 2026

Renewing the Migrant Integration Strategy The Migrant Integration Strategy: A Blueprint for the Future, published in 2017, provides a framework for a wide range of actions to support migrants to participate fully in Irish life. It includes actions to promote intercultural awareness and to combat racism and xenophobia. Under the auspices of the strategy, we have recently established a new committee to tackle racism, which will draft a new national action plan against racism.

Undocumented Minors We will work with NGOs to identify appropriate legal pathways for young people who find themselves ‘undocumented’ to regularise their status.

Dealing with ‘hate speech’ There is an upward trend in the We will identify international best instances of hate speech in many practice in prosecuting hate crime and countries around the world, including legislate to create specific offences, to Ireland. We have commenced ensure that those who target victims consultation on our incitement to because of their association with a hatred legislation and, if returned to particular identity characteristic, such office, we will modernise our laws as their sexual orientation or ethnicity, to ensure that those who seek to can be prosecuted. encourage and incite others to hate minority groups can be prosecuted.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 31 An Ireland where everyone is equal Fine Gael is passionately committed early-years parental care and the private sector still lags behind. to creating a country in which seek to facilitate greater work-life We will use the Government-backed every person is able to achieve balance Better Balance for Better Boards their potential. We want to support • Examine the social responsibility initiative to achieve a higher level of women, empower them, remove of care and women and men’s co- female participation at board level in structural barriers and create responsibility for care, especially corporate Ireland. Currently, fewer opportunities across all areas of life within the family than 20% of the directors in Irish – in the workplace, in education, in publicly listed companies are women. • Scrutinise the structural pay the family, on public and corporate Our initiative aims to increase this inequalities that result in women boards, in sports and the arts. figure to 30% by 2023 and to ensure being disproportionately that there is female representation We have put a spotlight on gender represented in low-pay sectors. on boards of all Irish publicly listed equality and want a mandate to The Citizens’ Assembly is convening companies. continue this. We introduced in January and will conclude its work legislation on gender pay; brought in this summer. We are concerned about the lack of subsidised childcare; and challenged females in senior positions within corporate and state bodies on female If you cannot see it, you the Irish higher education sector. We leadership and diversity. will implement the Senior Academic cannot be it Leadership Initiative to fix this Transparency is an important aspect problem. Citizens’ Assembly in closing the gender pay gap. We We recognise that this is a complex have introduced legislation requiring Fine Gael is committed to eliminating issue and while progress is being publication of the gender pay gap the gap between male and female made, it is not enough. For this in large companies. This will require sporting participation over the next reason, we have established a companies to publish information, decade. We have ensured that this Citizens’ Assembly to advance including the mean and median gap in goal is at the centre of the new gender equality and to bring forward hourly pay between men and women, National Sports Policy. proposals that: in bonus pay and in hourly pay of part- In 1992, there were just 20 female • Eliminate the remaining barriers time male and female employees; and TDs elected to the Dáil. By 2011, and challenge social norms and the percentage of men and of women that had increased to just 25. This attitudes that facilitate gender who have received bonus pay and is why, when Fine Gael came to discrimination towards girls and benefits in kind. We will ‘name and power in 2011, we – with the Labour boys, women and men; fame’ companies that make the best Party – legislated to require political • Seek to ensure women’s full and efforts to breakdown gender gaps. parties to have at least 30% of female effective participation and equal The best decisions are made by candidates in general elections. opportunities for leadership at all men and women working together. As a result, the number of women levels of decision-making in the Through targeted government elected in the 2016 General Election workplace, politics and public life initiatives, over 40% of people on increased to 35 – the most ever – and • Recognise the importance of state boards are women. However, an improvement of 40%.

32 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Regina Doherty Candidate for Meath East

In the 2019 Local Elections, we Returnships Government, we have strengthened brought forward financial rewards to Fine Gael will make it easier for the legislative and policy approach political parties that ran more female women to re-enter the workplace to tackle these insidious crimes, candidates. We will significantly with the introduction of ‘returnships’. alongside important measures increase this incentive in advance of This new initiative will support women, to protect and support victims. the next local elections in 2024. in the main, who have taken time out The Second National Strategy of work to raise their families or care on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Female entrepreneurship for loved ones, to re-enter the labour based Violence 2016-2021 is being As part of the new Action Plan for market through new education, implemented. We will engage closely Women in Business, we will ensure the training and personal development with stakeholders to develop the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and programmes. We will work in next iteration of this important EI work collaboratively to develop and partnership with employers across strategy, to ensure that victims grow female entrepreneurship in every the country, with a view to matching are at the heart of the strategy, county, through increased one-to-one returners with employers. that it is focused on reduction engagement and mentoring. and prevention, and that it draws Ending the epidemic extensively from international best We will expand the Acorns practice. Programme, providing additional of domestic and sexual funding support and mentoring of violence We are taking a range of steps to female entrepreneurs in the agri-food Ireland ratified the increase reporting, to ensure that the industry. This funding will support Convention on preventing and perpetrators are brought to justice small businesses led by female combating violence against women and that the victims are treated with entrepreneurs, with useful input in the and domestic violence – the Istanbul compassion and care: early stages of business development. Convention – on 8 March 2019. In • Garda Divisional Protective

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 33 Services Units are being of social media and the prevention Reducing harassment and established in every Garda of domestic violence harmful communications division to ensure a consistent • Domestic Homicide Reviews We have begun the legislative process and professional approach to the (DHRs) help to identify how to tackle harassment and harmful investigation of specialised crime responses to familicide could be communications, such as: types, including sexual crime, child improved in the future. We will • Revenge pornography abuse and domestic abuse introduce DHRs and the other • Taking and distributing intimate • An expert group is examining the recommendations proposed by images without consent adequacy of the mechanisms the special expert group we have available in law and practice established to examine the issue. • Harassment, including all forms relating to protecting vulnerable • The newly-established Judicial of communication, such as online witnesses in the investigation and Council will have an important or digital communications or prosecution of sexual offences. role to play in ensuring specialist communications about another person. • The Central Statistics Office training for judges working in the (CSO) is conducting multiannual area of family law. We are creating additional offences, surveys of the prevalence of sexual • Post-release supervision of sex including: violence in Ireland. These surveys offenders is important. We will • A specific offence of stalking will ensure more accurate data to update the Sex Offenders Act • A new offence to make ‘upskirting’ inform policy development. We will 2001, to ensure that convicted sex clearly illegal and punishable ensure that it is repeated every 10 offenders are effectively managed years, with more targeted surveys and monitored. We will examine • The expansion of the existing in the interim period ways to ban sex offenders from offence of sending threatening or indecent messages to apply to all • We will work to develop an using online dating apps. threatening, false indecent and age-appropriate Relationship obscene messages using any form and Sexuality Education (RSE) Women’s refuges of online communications. programme, across the primary, Fine Gael supports Tusla’s post-primary and third-level development of a plan for future Fine Gael will ensure that this sectors, which focuses on refuge provision, to ensure that every legilsation is enacted as soon as developing healthy relationships, part of the country has access to possible. the importance of consent, an refuge or outreach services, where understanding of sexuality, the role needed.

34 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

A first-class education system Education is at the heart of all of our Enacting the Student and 2019 Fine Gael provided free-of- ambitions as a nation. No other area Parent Charter Bill charge hot school meals to more of Government activity has greater We will enact the Student and Parent than 7,000 children, as part of a capacity to change our country for Charter Bill, which will require schools new pilot programme. In 2020, we the better. It is crucial to all of our to: will continue the roll out of this new ambitions to support a fairer society, initiative by providing hot meals to and it is crucial to all of our ambitions • Consult students and parents a further 35,000 children in primary to deliver a stronger economy. regularly in relation to school costs schools. We will continue this level Tackling educational disadvantage, and to work to prevent costs from of expansion over the next five- supporting children with special acting as a barrier years, focusing in the first instance educational needs to achieve • Publish school financial statements on providing hot meals to the most their full potential, and investing in that will include information on how vulnerable children in our society. leadership and continual professional any voluntary contributions are development, are cornerstones used Investing in teachers and of our plan to have a first-class • Invite feedback from students and schools education system. parents Under Fine Gael, we have achieved • Provide a fair and accessible the lowest ever pupil-teacher ratio Dealing with the costs of mechanism for resolving (26:1) in Irish primary schools. We will education complaints, including through reduce this further. We know how the summer months mediation. Fine Gael will continue to invest in can be a source of anxiety for parents, state-of-the-art school facilities as they face the costs associated with School capitation and ensure the delivery of new children returning to school. We will We recognise the challenges that permanent school places, to keep work hard over the next five years to schools face in meeting their day-to- pace with demographic demand. We reduce those costs. day running costs. Over the past two will continue to open new primary and years, we have increased capitation post-primary schools. Forty-five new Free schoolbooks scheme in recognition of this. We will continue schools have already been identified In September 2020, we are this and increase the capitation paid for the period to 2022. commencing a free schoolbooks to primary and secondary schools by As part of Project Ireland 2040, there scheme pilot, which will benefit 5% each year, over the next five years. will be a 70% increase in schools’ thousands of primary school pupils capital funding, compared to the past and their parents. We will use the Hot meals in schools decade (€4.9 billion to €8.4 billion). learnings from this to inform the Research shows that children who Investment will rise to €1 billion per introduction of a free books scheme benefit from a daily nutritious hot annum by 2027. This long-term for all primary schools, commencing dinner have greater focus and planning and certainty is essential in September 2022. better learning outcomes. So, in

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 35 across all infrastructural investment, from school to apprenticeships. We will develop Technical Support but most particularly education. The DEIS programme has been an Service Teams, which will sustain the delivery of step-up plans designed The focus on building new schools will outstanding success in helping to by schools and the development of not be to the detriment of the existing tackle disadvantage in education. innovation clusters. schools. Therefore, we will ensure We have commenced a review of that the focus on refurbishment of the current DEIS scheme, to extend The School Excellence Fund (SEF) is an existing schools outlined in Project it and to support more schools in innovation implemented by Fine Gael, Ireland 2040 is delivered. This includes disadvantaged areas. Informed which enables schools to collaborate upgrading school labs as part of the by this review, and in consultation and participate in innovative modernisation of science curricula, with our education partners, we will programmes aimed at improving building and modernising PE facilities expand access. learning outcomes for young people. in primary and secondary schools, We will increase funding to the Digital, commencing deep energy retrofitting Supporting small schools STEM and Creative School Excellence of schools built prior to 2008, and We will build on the steps taken in Funds. investing €420 million in digital facilities recent years to support small schools over the next decade. by reducing the pupil-teacher ratios in schools with four teachers or fewer. Inclusive education Increasing parental choice In each of our first two years in office, Following on from the recent review we will reduce the number of pupils – of the Special Needs Assistant in education (SNA) Scheme, a new model has been We will achieve the target of at by one – required by small schools to retain or recruit a teacher. implemented on a pilot basis since least 400 multidenominational and September 2019. The new Inclusion nondenominational schools by 2030, Support Model will be front-loaded to improve parental choice. Reducing school transport and will see the majority of support We will continue to uphold the rights costs posts allocated ahead of time, We know that the cost of school of parents to have their children removing the need for assessments transport can be significant for educated in a denominational school. and allowing for earlier intervention. parents. Over the next five years We will protect minority faith schools. Students should have access to a we will progressively reduce the continuum of assistance based on charge to parents for the School need, not diagnosis. Tackling educational Transport Scheme until the charge disadvantage is abolished. We will also amend the We will ensure that children get the Tackling educational disadvantage scheme’s rules to allow a pupil attend right assistance at the right time. This and helping people to achieve their their nearest school or next nearest new model will help to develop better full potential is at the heart of our school to offer families more choice. progression paths from primary to plan. We aim to close the gap in secondary education and will involve a learning and progression among We will conduct a study in 2020 to nurse-led approach. disadvantaged groups. examine the feasibility of introducing free public transport for under 18s This new model will also ensure that Our programme to tackle educational who are still in education, taking parents do not have to get a formal disadvantage will include: into account the planned significant diagnosis. • Developing more tailored supports increase in capacity for public As part of this, we will commence a for DEIS schools, including a toolkit transport to meet current and future new training programme for SNAs, of supports, to enable schools to demand. ensuring that they are trained to the get the right supports to meet highest standards. their needs, based on school Enabling educational improvement plans There is increased demand at innovation primary and post-primary level for • Providing school leaders with access School excellence support funding places in special classes for pupils to better data, so that they can plan will become a central developmental with additional educational needs. for the future pillar of the policy of the Department We will work with school patrons, • C ontinuing to develop initiatives to of Education and Skills. We shall management and staff in providing improve reading and Maths integrate more closely the advisory the supports and training required • Targeting access programmes to service of the Schools’ Inspectorate by schools to provide these school higher and further education with supports such as continuous places. professional development (CPD), • Improving the pathways in our leadership development and specialist Where there is a difficulty in providing education system for less academic support services (e.g. NEPS, NCSE). school places, we will continue to use students, particularly in transition the legislative powers available to

36 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to require schools to provide them, but as at all levels, including those schools Ensuring a fit-for-purpose in the past, this will only be done when that take on additional special curriculum at all levels other efforts have been exhausted. classes. We recognise the burdens faced by teaching principals in their Primary Curriculum We will review the current system of dual roles of class teachers and We will continue the review and the the July Provision (or July Education school managers and will continue to renewal of the primary curriculum, so Programme). We understand how support them. that each child can grow, learn and important it is to the families and flourish within our education system. children who currently benefit from it, so we want to make it even more Involving young people Junior Cycle inclusive. in shaping the future of The new Junior Cycle has undergone education a major reform. We will continue to We will develop a consultative forum embed it and keep the new system Committed to teachers’ under review, as the first generation professional development on the future of education, including experts, education partners and of students who were taught under We are committed to investing the new cycle sit exams. to help teachers and leaders to most importantly, young people. It continually improve, by helping them will discuss matters including lifelong We will develop a special core status to develop their own self-evaluation learning for all, the Irish language, for History and have it in place for plan and design and implement how education can help to stop September 2020. climate change and other challenges initiatives to deliver measurable Senior Cycle Review improvements. of global citizenship, the impact of social media and technology and the We will build on the recent reforms We will build the capacity in schools purpose and culture of education in at Junior Cycle level, to create an to undertake this work and become the future. education system designed to learning organisations: prepare future generations with skills that they need in life, such as critical • Using data to effectively inform Developing healthy thinking. their practices relationships with an • Creating the tools and the time for age-appropriate Compassion at exam time planning In 2019, we introduced a system Relationship and whereby students sitting the Leaving • F ostering a culture of inquiry, Sexuality Education Certificate who suffered the loss of a knowledge and innovation programme close family member could postpone • Using the new middle We will work to develop an age- some exams. We will extend this to management framework to appropriate RSE programme, across other Leaving Certificate students, develop accountable leadership in the primary, post-primary and in particular those suffering a serious most important areas of work third-level sectors, which focuses illness. • W orking with other schools. on developing healthy relationships, the importance of consent, an We will continue to invest in teachers’ Sustainable funding for understanding of sexuality, the role CPD to support the phase-in of of social media and the prevention of our third-level institutions the new curriculum at a primary domestic violence. Fine Gael has significantly increased level, Junior Cycle and Senior investment in higher education, Cycle. We will ensure that the but we know more is needed. The professional development training Modern foreign provision of additional resources is provided to teachers at primary and languages dependent on economic growth and secondary level enables a greater We introduced Languages Connect: steady management of the public understanding of the benefits of Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign finances. Only Fine Gael is capable of digital education resources and Languages in Education 2017- delivering this. supports teachers and schools in 2026. We will continue to work at In July 2016, the Expert Group on the the use of digital technology as an all levels of our education system Future Funding of Higher Education educational tool. to encourage a greater take-up of foreign languages and to promote a published its report, Investing in National Ambition: A Strategy for Supporting school society where the ability to learn and use at least one foreign language is Funding Higher Education. We sought, leadership taken for granted. This will give us a through the Oireachtas Committee Our school leaders play a vital role significant competitive advantage on Education and Skills, to develop a in our education system and we will after the UK leaves the EU. cross-party consensus. This was not continue to support school leaders possible.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 37 Informed by research that we have strategic priorities in relation to higher We will work to improve access to commissioned with the European education access, research-informed higher education for members of the Commission, we are committed to teaching and learning excellence, Traveller Community, along with other establishing a long-term funding as well supporting enterprise and groups that are underrepresented. model for higher and further education regional development. Fine Gael recognises that people in Ireland. Technological University Dublin (TUD) with intellectual disabilities are This long-term funding model will have opened its doors on 01 January 2019, underrepresented in higher education. regard to the following principles: amalgamating DIT, IT More needs to be done to support and IT Tallaght. the transition from secondary • No increase in the registration fees education into higher education and Four consortia have formed and are • Continuing the increases in public employment. funding in the process of preparing or refining applications to achieve the status of a Ten higher education institutions • Ensuring that the increased TU. They are: offer special options for students resources will deliver more student with intellectual disabilities. These places, good student experiences • Munster TU: an amalgam of Cork programmes are enriching the lives and jobs-ready graduates prepared Institute of Technology (IT) and IT and prospects of the students and for the workplace of the next their families. decade and beyond. • TU of the South East of Ireland: This long-term funding model will an amalgam of IT Carlow and If returned to office, we will work build upon the significant increase in Waterford IT with the Inclusive National Higher Education Forum to build on the investment that has occurred over •  Ulster Alliance: an already constructive engagement the the past few years. Between 2016 and amalgam of Galway Mayo IT, IT forum has begun with the Department 2020, planned investment in higher Sligo and Letterkenny IT education has increased by 25% to of Education and Skills, and Solas. • AL TU: an amalgam of Athlone IT €1.88 billion. This is in addition to the and Limerick IT. significant capital allocations made to Cost of student third-level education contained within We have put in place a rigorous accommodation statutory process for these consortia Project Ireland 2040. Over the next Fine Gael understands the difficulty to meet, in order to attain TU status. four years, more than €500 million will faced by students in sourcing suitable be spent on upgrading and adding We will continue working closely with accommodation, and that they are facilities on campuses all over the them to get these new TUs up and suffering due to the housing crisis. country. running and have provided €90 million Fundamentally, the problem lies We have already earmarked monies to support these processes. Project with the lack of supply which is being from the National Training Fund for Ireland 2040 commits resources to addressed. the infrastructural development of investment in higher education. Fine Gael has increased the number of TUs, with a particular urgency being We will allocate more of this surplus new student bed spaces available to attached to the establishment of the to higher and further education if more than 8,000 since July 2016 when TU of the South East of Ireland. prudent to do so. We will also make Rebuilding Ireland was launched and more Exchequer funds available. just over 30,000 student bed spaces Making higher education existed. We have also provided funding Technological Universities accessible to all to the USI for a Student Housing (TUs), the most radical Fine Gael will expand and extend the Officer to assist students in finding reconfiguration of Irish National Plan for Equity of Access to appropriate accommodation. We have higher-level education in Higher Education. also funded a web-based platform generations The plan will ensure that the student to match property owners and body entering, participating in and homeowners with students looking to The creation of Technological rent a room. Universities (TUs) is the most completing higher education at all radical reconfiguration of the higher levels reflects the diversity and social In addition, student accommodation education landscape in generations mix of Ireland’s population. is now covered by Rent Pressure and was established by Fine Gael in An independent review of the plan Zone legislation which provides basic Government. has found it is successful in meeting protections for those in student accommodation. This includes a cap TUs will have a major impact upon and exceeding its goals for most target groups, although further work on annual rent increases of no more their regions. They will deliver than 4%. These provisions came into significant advantages to national is required with some, including members of the Traveller Community. law last summer.

38 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Pa O’Driscoll Candidate for Cork East

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 39 Skills: a national priority There is a war for talent. Ireland must be the most adept at providing the talent, in order to deliver new technologies to support innovation and to develop entrepreneurship. • Ireland must equip employers and workers to anticipate and adapt to a changed workplace and ensure that those who might be displaced are upskilled • The National Skills Council and the nine regional skills fora will drive Ireland’s ambition to be a world leader in anticipating and responding to skills needs • We will expand Springboard throughout further and higher education, designed to offer upskilling in areas of skills shortage to those who want to upskill, to those who are re-entering the workforce or to those who have been made redundant.

Human Capital Initiative give an exciting career path for many certain craft areas, to a wider range of (HCI) young people. We want apprentices programmes.. Fine Gael established the Human and trainees to acquire applied, Capital Initiative (HCI) – a €300 million technical skills within a variety of Prioritising the wellbeing programme from 2020 to 2024 – as sectors, and provide a very practical of third-level students a strategic response to meeting the grounding which will stand to them The wellbeing of students is a top skills needs of the economy. as they move through their career priority. In Government, we have led and take advantage of promotional and funded initiatives around student The sum of €60 million will be spent opportunities. in each of its five years on measures care and welfare on campus, dealing to respond to future world of work We will publish an updated with consent, wellbeing, mental health challenges, upskilling, reskilling and Apprenticeship Action Plan to grow and drug, alcohol and substance to mitigate Brexit risk. This will be a the number of apprenticeships abuse. We will continue to prioritise transformative development for the between now and 2025, increasing these programmes, if returned to third-level sector and is a key element the total number of new annual office. in preparing our economy and our registrations to 10,000 per annum. workforce for these changes. We will target 120 apprenticeship The Student Universal and traineeship programmes. New Support Ireland (SUSI) programmes opened already include grant A focus on lifelong auctioneering, ICT, hospitality, We know that meeting the costs of learning logistics and biopharma. From leaving education to retirement, third-level education can be hard most people will spend more than 40 We must develop a stronger pipeline for students and their families. We years in the world of work. They are of apprenticeships and traineeships recognise the challenges families face likely to have a wide variety of careers to support a growing economy and to and will increase by 5% the income and employers, and even if they stay provide career paths for people with threshold for the Student Universal confined to one sector or employer, different interests and abilities. Support Ireland (SUSI) grant. We will also keep both the grant level and the will see the nature of their work change We will improve the pathways income eligibility thresholds under significantly. To this end, we will ingrain between second level and regular review. a culture of lifelong learning within the apprenticeship and ensure that workforce. We will focus on increasing apprenticeship is a good alternative the lifelong learning rate from 9% to third level. Higher education Expanding the horizons currently to 18% by 2025. We will institutions alone will supply a portion of students and our third- examine the feasibility of using the of our skills needs, but there is a need level institutions National Training Fund to help workers for stronger alternative routes and We will work with all our third-level fund lifelong learning, drawing on the alternative sources of the different institutions so that they can develop example of other countries, such as types of skills that a growing economy partnerships throughout the EU to France. requires. massively increase our exposure to Horizon 2020 funding and to increase We know that more needs to be done Irish participation in Erasmus+ Committed to expanding to attract underrepresented groups, programmes, particularly in terms further education in particular women. We will extend of sending and receiving third-level Fine Gael have a plan to grow the bursary scheme to employers to students on academic exchanges. apprenticeships and traineeships to take on female apprenticeships, in

40 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Preparing for the jobs of tomorrow

In 2011, Ireland was a broken Our jobs plan is based on delivering sustainable, enterprise-based jobs country. The economy was growth, and will deal head-on with the threats our economy is facing. in tatters and hundreds of Beyond the immediate threat of Brexit, there are three major long-term thousands of men and women priorities we must work on now to protect jobs and the economy into the future. We must: were out of work. Since then, though, an extra 4,250 people 1. Improve the performance and productivity of our domestic SMEs, with a particular focus on export-oriented firms. have joined the workforce every month. This only 2. Give a sustained focus to improving the quality of jobs and work- life balance. We need to ensure that the workplace is as open and happened because of the hard responsive to the needs of workers as possible, if we are to help work of the Irish people and the people enjoy proper work-life balance, remain competitive, win the right mix of policies. However, war for talent and increase the participation rate in our workforce we cannot be complacent 3. Be prepared for the future. about this progress. We cannot Based on implementing our plan for jobs and the economy, we are targeting take it for granted. 200,000 additional new jobs by 2025.

Backing Irish business increasing the number of start-ups and Entrepreneurship strategy. We Ireland is internationally regarded with better survival rates, creating will also consider how the strategy as one of the best locations in the more Irish-owned companies of can be best implemented by a world for FDI. In the years ahead, we scale, developing businesses’ exports dedicated oversight mechanism. to international markets, encouraging will continue that work and ensure Over the next five years we will: that Ireland remains one of the best research and innovation in Irish places in the world for FDI. We will companies, and prioritising measures • Increase the number of SMEs also work to diversify the source of to support improvements in the exporting by 50% that investment. productivity of our SMEs. • Improve the survival of high-growth start-ups by one-fifth However, we must now establish the same reputation for Ireland as New national SME and • Scale our micro-enterprises and the home of innovative, competitive entrepreneurship strategy ensure a seamless transition from and increasingly export-oriented The OECD has just completed a LEO to EI small and medium-sized enterprises full review of Ireland’s SME and • T ake the necessary steps to (SMEs). Our plan for Irish enterprise Entrepreneurship policy. We will improve the productivity of our is about helping businesses to use this work to form the basis for SMEs a comprehensive new national SME start, grow and expand. This means • Accelerate market diversification,

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 41 Candidate for Dublin Bay North

42 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

so that 75% of our indigenous claims and premiums, to strengthen and easier to prosecute, to ensure exports are to non-UK markets by the power of the Personal Injuries that false or misleading evidence in 2025 Assessment Board (PIAB) around insurance cases is discouraged • Increase innovation and R&D spend compliance with its procedures and to • intr oduce a new deterrent to and improve the quality of that increase consumer rights. prevent individuals with a history spend by SMEs The major reform of An Garda of bringing fraudulent claims from • Increase the sales of EI clients from Siochana now underway means that bringing new claims without the €23billion to €30billion. every division in the country will soon prior approval of the , to deal with serial claimants. A major issue that we will focus upon have expertise in economic crime, is improving the management skills including insurance fraud, with the • Consider changes to the within Irish SMEs. We will develop an expert Garda National Economic Occupiers Liability Act and the Civil action plan for financial education Crime Bureau overseeing this vital Liability Act, to strengthen waivers for SMEs and entrepreneurs, which work. New measures also include a and notices to increase protections will bring a coordinated and focused new special categorisation on the for consumers, businesses, approach to the works of agencies Garda Pulse system and a new Garda sporting clubs and community such as Skillsnet and EI. divisional approach to tackling fraud. groups. We will demand from the insurance We will also develop a regional We have established a new Judicial industry that they will commit to innovation and technology clustering Council, which is now tasked with reductions as reforms are enacted. programme to link SMEs and Institutes drawing up personal injury award of Technology (IoTs). guidelines. The Personal Injuries If these measures do not result in Commission have said that Judicial significant reductions, Fine Gael will Fine Gael will continue to embed Guidelines should lead to greatly then consider bringing forward a new a culture of entrepreneurship that increased levels of consistency in constitutional amendment to allow encourages people’s curiosity awards, increase the frequency of the Oireachtas to set down guidelines and innovation from an early early resolution of claims, reduce on premiums. age. We will develop a cohesive, costs and generally provide a much cross-government strategy for better informed process. entrepreneurship education. This A responsive tax regime will involve a greater focus on ICT But we need to do more. We want to A responsive tax regime can act as skills and quality science, technology, ensure any award is proportionate to a driver of domestic entrepreneurial engineering and mathematics the injury, so minor injuries only ever activity. In Budget 2020, we (STEM) education as part of the get minor awards. introduced a suite of measures targeted at supporting our SME primary curriculum. We will enable It will be important to balance sector. We will build on these an educational experience that individual rights of people who have measures by providing a small nurtures people’s curiosity, problem- been genuinely injured through business tax package averaging solving and creativity from a young negligence, the independence of €20 million in each of the next five age, including the integration of the judiciary, and the need to keep budgets. We recently commissioned coding and computational thinking insurers active and competitive in the an external review of the Capital throughout the curriculum. Irish market, including attracting new Gains Tax Revised Entrepreneur foreign players into the market. Insurance reform Relief and will consider what changes Fine Gael is committed to cutting the could be made to the relief to better This has been an issue we have cost of insurance. We will: support entrepreneurs. We will review made progress on but not enough. CGT rates in each Budget over the Fine Gael understands the pressure • extend the transparency of the next five years, in particular with the on small businesses, crèches, and claims database to cover public/ objective of supporting innovation- restaurants that is being created by employer liability insurance driven enterprises. insurance premiums. • create, from existing resources, an Fine Gael has implemented the Key We have a minister focussed virtually office within Government tasked Employee Engagement Programme exclusively on this. We have enacted with encouraging the entry of (KEEP) to help SMEs to reward and several pieces of legislation to international insurers into the Irish retain their employees – something reform the Irish insurance market, market that is all the more important as including to increase transparency on • make perjury a statutory offence we reach full employment. We

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 43 have reformed the scheme as We will also carry out a companies when applying for LEO or part of Budget 2020, so that more comprehensive review of the Credit EI support and set clear deadlines for companies and employees are eligible Guarantee Scheme (CGS). This grant application turnarounds. to avail of it. In addition, we have made will take account of best practice improvements to the Employment internationally, particularly the Flemish A sustainable and and Investment Incentive (EII) model, to ensure that the CGS meets productive construction Scheme, to make it more effective and the needs of our SMEs. sector enhanced the R&D Tax Credit, with a While there are some highly particular focus on supporting claims Local Enterprise Offices innovative firms working in the to the credit by smaller companies. (LEOs) construction sector, their practices We want to encourage greater Fine Gael is committed to supporting and approach are not mainstreamed take up of the R&D Tax Credit by our small, local, indigenous businesses. across the sector. Compared to other small domestic companies. We will We will expand the role of the LEOs, sectors of the Irish economy and simplify the administrative process so they can go further in supporting other EU countries, productivity in this for applications to make it more local job creation. At present, the LEOs sector is too low. This is adding costs accessible. This will include a pre- can only provide direct grant support to projects, meaning less work for our approval procedure and reduced to businesses with 10 employees or construction companies. record-keeping requirements. fewer, while EI usually targets larger Through the Construction Sector companies that have exporting We will continue to work closely Group, we will develop a roadmap for potential. This means that a cohort with stakeholders and modernise the sector, focused on improving the of businesses with more than 10 these schemes, as necessary, in the productivity of the sector, exploiting employees operating in the domestic future. We will allocate an additional the advantages of technologies like market is currently not eligible for €20 million in each budget to fund Building Information Modelling (BIM) support. We will change this. a package of supports for small and making sure that it is a source of companies. good quality, long-term employment. Enterprise Ireland (EI) There are more than 217,000 Linkages with people employed in EI-supported Improving the multinationals companies right across the country. performance of our We will continue to place an emphasis Fine Gael will ensure that Irish firms haulage and logistics on developing linkages between are globally competitive. To do this, sector multinational firms and our SMEs, we have already opened new EI Our haulage and logistics sector so that SMEs can gain access to offices and put more boots on the is essential to so much economic best practice and see and learn from ground abroad, as we seek to find activity. We will publish and world-class innovation. In order new markets for Irish companies. implement a 10-year strategy for to achieve this, we will introduce We will set out a series of ambitious the sector, focused on improving specific incentives for large firms and targets for EI over the next five years, efficiencies, standards, and helping multinationals to undertake R&D in including: the sector move to a low-carbon partnerships with SMEs. An example future. of this is already in place with the • Increasing by 50% the number of €500 million Disruptive Technologies SMEs exporting Innovation Fund, where collaboration • Doubling the number of firms Supporting local with an SME is a key requirement of supported by EI’s Exporter businesses to get online the scheme. Development Department Fine Gael wants to ensure that local businesses are able to avail • Increasing export sales by EI of the many benefits from having Microfinance clients from €23 billion to €30 an online presence. The Trading Recognising the importance of billion. Online Voucher Scheme is available access to credit for our SMEs and We recognise the time and through LEOs and offers grant aid of Start-Ups, we will increase the resources required for businesses up to €2,500 to help businesses to current maximum loan available to fill out paperwork. We will establish an online presence. Given from Microfinance Ireland (MFI) from therefore streamline the process for the ever-increasing move online, €25,000 to €50,000.

44 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

we recognise that more needs to be Enabling flexible working development by allowing people done. This is why we introduced a pilot We will work with employees and to remain in their own locality, competitive Online Retail Scheme for employers to bring in flexible working increase labour force participation, eligible SMEs in the retail sector, with guidance across the workforce. and contribute to tackling climate grant aid of up to €25,000 available for Flexible working encompasses a change. successful SMEs. The new scheme wide range of practices including We will publish the first ever national has helped 40 retailers across Ireland part-time working, remote working, guidance and strategy on remote to strengthen their online trading compressed hours, working from working before the end of 2020. capabilities, in order to compete home and job sharing. Companies internationally. We will formally would benefit from the ability to Many major FDI companies already establish this scheme to support our access a wider talent pool and a offer remote working as an option retail sector. more motivated and productive to their employees. We want to labour force, as well as from less encourage this further. We will Commercial rates absenteeism. Providing parents mandate the IDA to have a specific Fine Gael understands that and carers with greater choice in focus on remote working as part commercial rates can pose big organising their work and caring of their new five-year strategy, difficulties for some businesses. responsibilities also reduces the risk highlighting the new opportunities We want the system to be as that they will leave the labour market associated with the roll-out of straightforward, transparent and altogether. the NBP. as responsive as possible. We are Increasing female employment While some people are happy to conscious that revaluations can results in higher earnings and work from their own homes, others present sudden changes in business contributes to career progression can find it isolating and prefer to rates bills, so we will examine if such that positively impact on families’ work from an office environment, changes can be introduced on a economic prosperity, social inclusion where they can interact with others phased basis. We will closely monitor and health. A labour market that as part of their working week. We the recent Local Government Rates offers flexible working solutions can want to support this type of co- and Other Matters Act, which sought result in a win-win-win for employers, working environment, which can also to modernise the rates system, workers and society. Fine Gael is have significant benefits in terms of and which included provision for pursuing this initiative, as it will assist fostering collaboration, innovation and local authorities to introduce rates with retention of talent and family creativity. Fine Gael will continue to alleviation schemes to support commitments. work to support the development of specific national and local authority such hubs across Ireland. policy objectives. We will examine The National Broadband Plan Better work-life balance with the further ways to streamline the (NBP) as an enabler of remote right to disconnect system and to ensure that appeals working The increasing digitalisation of the against commercial rates are The National Broadband Plan (NBP) workforce, while presenting huge processed quickly. will enable new ways of working and will exploit the huge benefits that opportunities, can also lead to remote working offers to employers, workplace stress due to an ‘always Better balance in life employees and society more on’ culture. Fine Gael believes and work generally. everybody has a right to ‘switch off’, As we reach full employment, we must once their working day is over. focus on productive, quality jobs in all For workers, this can mean better parts of Ireland. To retain or attract work-life balance, more affordable While we recognise that situations highly qualified or specialised talent housing and less time commuting. can arise where workers may occasionally need to be available into the future, workplaces will have to For companies, this can provide to take a call or send an email after demonstrate flexibility, support lifelong access to a wider talent pool, reduce hours, we believe this should be the learning and be more family friendly. spending on office space, and make exception rather than the norm. A skilled employee in a tight labour for a happier and more productive market has greater employment workforce. We will bring forward proposals for a choices, and will choose to work in an right to disconnect in 2020. environment that does not compete More generally, remote working will with personal and family time. ease congestion, support regional

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 45 Being prepared for the pioneering technologies across the multinationals and SMEs. Top Teams future of work health, food, ICT and manufacturing will examine how Government, the Future Jobs Ireland - Preparing Now sectors in all parts of Ireland. public sector and enterprise can exploit the opportunities presented for Tomorrow’s Economy (March We will ensure that there is at least one by AI, GovTech and offshore 2019) places a strong focus on round of funding granted under the renewables. We will expand the Top increasing productivity and boosting Project Ireland 2040 DTIF each year, Teams to other sectors in the future, participation rates, so that we can over the next five years, and that all of as opportunities present themselves. take advantage of technological the €500 million fund is allocated by changes and embed them into 2025. Fine Gael recognises the fantastic all parts of our economy. We work carried out by the Design & have entered a period of major Backing Science Crafts Council of Ireland, in terms technological and societal change. of supporting and promoting the Technological changes, most Foundation Ireland (SFI) Fine Gael wants Science Foundation country’s unique designers and notably robotics, AI and digitalisation Ireland (SFI) to play a leading role, as makers. We have committed to are changing the very nature of it positions Ireland’s economy for establishing a National Design Centre work and, while presenting major the future. By continuing to invest under Project Ireland 2040, in order to opportunities, will undoubtedly impact in science and research, Ireland can drive competitiveness and innovation on employment. become a leader in bringing about in the design sector. In tandem with this major change, positive societal change. we will need to move to a low-carbon Strategies for advanced SFI is central to government policy economic model as a matter of across a range of areas, such as manufacturing and urgency. climate and sustainability, health artificial intelligence (AI) We know these changes are taking innovation and new technologies for Manufacturing is a central pillar of place and will accelerate in the coming the agriculture sector. our economy: 227,000 people are years. We must act decisively now, employed in the sector, with 85% As part of Global Ireland, we will greatly to ensure that we are prepared as of the jobs outside located Dublin. increase SFI’s presence overseas, a country, as enterprises and as We will deliver on Ireland’s Industry along with Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia individuals for those changes, and 4.0 Strategy 2020-2025, focused and other agencies, and include it adapt early to our greatest benefit. on advanced manufacturing and as a pillar of all trade and investment encouraging firms to engage in Leading the next phase of missions, along with EI and the IDA. advanced technologies such as disruptive technology As part of Project Ireland 2040, We are cloud computing, internet of things, Fine Gael will ensure that Ireland committed to increasing the number high performance computing, is a global leader in research and of SFI Research Centres to 20. In collaborative robotics and 3D printing. innovation and that it leads rather than doing so, we will for the first time seek follows in this technological revolution. to establish a cross-border research We will finalise a strategy on AI We introduced the new €500 million centre, to bring together universities shortly, setting out the opportunities Project Ireland 2040 Disruptive and industry north and south. and challenges faced by Ireland in Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). this area, and how we will develop This is one of the first funds of its kind expertise and create competitive Enabling the advantage. globally and will drive collaboration opportunities for Ireland between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry in the development in high-potential sectors Developing digital literacy and adoption of ground-breaking new with Top Teams in the next generation Top Teams will be created where technologies. In order to be prepared for this new there is a multi-organisational world of work, digital literacy among So far, €70 million of funding from response needed to accelerate young people is essential. To that end, Project Ireland 2040 has been awarded growth and remove barriers to we will progress the development to 27 different consortiums, bringing development. They will be time- of the new primary school Maths together enterprise, researchers limited and will have a sector-wide curriculum to include computational, and academic institutions to develop focus, thereby creating links between flexible and creative thinking skills.

46 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Not letting any adult We will draft a new Consumer Rights Consumer Protection Commission fall behind in terms of Bill, which will update and strengthen (CCPC) to take a more active literacy, numeracy and Irish consumer law, in line with best enforcement role. We will direct the international practice. This is a CCPC to focus on ensuring that digital skills major piece of work and will involve there is full disclosure in relation We also know that we cannot let significant public consultation, to partnerships, sponsorships and adults fall behind in terms of literacy, so that it is informed by the real other advertising relationships numeracy and digital skills. Too many experiences of consumers. between media influencers and adults today are locked out of parts brands. While this is captured, to an of normal daily life, because they did As part of this we will: extent, by existing legislation there not have the chance to get these skills • S trengthen consumer rights for has been limited enforcement in in the first place. We have seen the consumers who download or this area. Given the ever-increasing impact that changes in employment stream digital content importance of such influencers in opportunities in traditional industries • Give a right of repair or refund consumer decisions, it is important can have in regions, and the vital to consumers for substandard to set out the obligations and importance of core literacy and services for the first time consequences clearly. numeracy skills in opening up new employment opportunities for people. • Intr oduce a standard 30-day We will enable regulatory bodies Therefore, we will publish a new 10- period during which consumers such as the Commission for year governmental strategy on this may return faulty goods and get a Communications Regulation within the first year, if we are returned full refund (ComReg), the Central Bank and to office, and place the support for • Update the list of contract terms the CCPC to have greater use of adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills that are presumed to be unfair, administrative penalties to sanction at the centre of our education policy. which has not been updated since rogue operators, as is the norm in the mid-2000s. other EU Member States. Protecting consumers We will modernise ComReg’s We have enacted long-awaited Transparency in legislative underpinning and give consumer protection legislation advertising, sponsorships it greater powers of enforcement, to ensure that gift vouchers have with a particular focus on improving a minimum expiry date of at least and partnerships We will move away from the current competition, innovation and five years. We will also enact the self-regulating regime for advertising customer service within the legislation that will ban ticket touting. and require the Competition and communications sector.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 47 Responsible management of the public finances We have balanced the books and Government and that of Fianna a further €2 billion in 2021, subject to moved to a healthy surplus of over Fáil, whose pre-election ‘give-away’ current market conditions prevailing. €2 billion in 2019. We are targeting budgets were never in the national a budgetary surplus of 1% by 2021, interest and ultimately damaged the Banking Sector improving incrementally to 1.3% by country. Stronger rules and regulation of 2025. our banking sector will help prevent This buffer is essential, as we are Debt and surplus targets a repeat of the banking crisis of a facing increasingly uncertain times. We will also target reductions in decade ago. However, rules and Britain will leave the EU, and while overall government debt levels. We regulations by themselves will not we will seek to negotiate the best will reduce the debt-to-GNI* ratio to be enough. We need a change of possible future relationship deal around 85%, by 2025, as an interim culture within our banking sector at for Ireland, it will not be as good as step towards a ratio of 60% by the the highest levels. Incidents like the common EU membership. end of the decade. tracker mortgage scandal suggest that our banking culture has not In addition to this, as a small, open changed sufficiently yet. We welcome economy, we are especially vulnerable Using windfall assets to pay down national debt the establishment of the Irish Banking to international protectionism, which Culture Board. We will examine the is on the rise. We will use any windfall gains such as the National Asset Management effectiveness of this initiative over the International corporate tax reform is Agency (NAMA) surplus, the final next year and will bring forward further approaching and Ireland will be at the resolution of the liquidation of the regulatory changes if that initiative is frontline of any changes. Irish Bank Resolution Corporation not demonstrating effectiveness. We will continue to manage the public (IBRC) or the sale of the state finances responsibly, using budgetary shareholdings in the banks, to pay State shareholdings in the policy to smooth the economic cycle down our national debt. This will banks and ensuring that we do not return to reduce interest payments, and Fine Gael does not believe that there the dark days of the past. thereby free up money for sustainable is a long-term case for the State to increases in spending on health, remain as a shareholder in the Irish Our responsible approach can be schools, policing and other essential banking sector. To this end, we will best seen in how we dealt with the public services. seek to sell these shareholdings in a last budget, Budget 2020. Given the measured fashion, to maximise the possible threat of a no-deal Brexit, we return to the taxpayer. ensured that there was a responsible Winding down of NAMA and prudent budget. This approach to We will work with NAMA over the a pre-election budget demonstrates coming years to achieve the best Central Bank the stark contrast between Fine possible return to the taxpayer from its independence Gael’s handling of your money in portfolio. NAMA will pay €2 billion of its We value and respect the surplus to the Exchequer in 2020 and independence of the Central Bank of

48 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Paschal Donohoe Candidate for Dublin Central

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 49 Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Candidate for Dún Laoghaire

50 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Ireland. We will oppose any attempts We will continue to engage better reflect the realities of project to undermine that independence. constructively on international tax delivery, ensuring full consideration reform, while critically analysing of the costs, risks and potential Credit Unions proposals that may not be in Ireland’s benefits of each investment. These Fine Gael recognises the vital long term interests. Demonstrating changes will: this, we brought forward the Roadmap role played by credit unions in • Provide a strong challenge culture on Corporation Tax Reform and are communities throughout Ireland. so that the merits, costs and committed to its implementation. Conscious of the impact of enhanced benefits of project are constantly regulation and levies in recent Fine Gael recognises that taxation interrogated years, this year the Government policy needs to catch up with a • Provide much greater clarity has reduced the Credit Institutions changing digital economy. This work on governance and roles and Resolution Fund Levy by 44% is best done through the OECD. responsibilities in major projects when compared to 2019. We have Fine Gael will not support unilateral • Deliver greater value for money also scrapped credit unions’ 25c measures that could risk trade and transaction charge associated undermine the competitiveness of • Help public bodies to forecast with the “It Makes Sense” Loan exporting EU Member States. costs better and to strengthen Scheme from January 2020. This risk identification and should improve take up of the We are committed to increasing our management. scheme among credit unions and budgetary surplus to deal with the help keep more people away from predicted decline in corporate tax Procurement reform to moneylenders. revenue from 2022 onwards. deliver better value for Fine Gael believes the credit union The European Union (EU’s) money, rather than the sector could play an important role cheapest price in the funding of social housing. budget Public sector procurement is a We believe that the Multiannual The Government has helped fund major bone of contention, and Financial Framework (MFF) (the EU’s research in this area and we will rightly so. Still too many contract seven-year budget) must deliver ensure the Government provides awards are driven purely by securing an ambitious strategic agenda as much guidance as possible to the cheapest price, while contract for Europe. Ireland wants to play a help encourage Approved Housing price inflation is enabled by poorly positive role in shaping Europe’s Bodies (AHBs) and potential investors designed and monitored tender future, including the big challenges to agree a workable and mutually processes. acceptable approach. like climate change and migration, while securing the future of key We will reform the Capital Works programmes such as CAP, Horizon, Management Framework to Capital Acquisitions Erasmus and Interreg. We are willing improve the current approach (Inheritance) Tax to contribute more to the MFF, to procurement under Project We will keep the existing threshold of provided that we can achieve the right Ireland 2040. We will enhance work €335,000 exempt from CAT when it budget for Europe and Ireland. requirements to focus tenderers relates to an inheritance to a son or on accurately pricing the project: a daughter (Group A). For the first Delivering public projects risks associated with the project €250,000 above that threshold we and ensuring value for will be better defined and those will introduce a new lower rate of 20%. best positioned will be tasked with Anything above €585,000 will remain money managing the identified risk. taxed at 33%. This new measure will Project Ireland 2040 has seen a We will establish the Commercial be introduced on a phased basis of considerable increase in capital Skills Academy on a permanent €50,000 in each year. expenditure over the past two years. We will reform how public basis, to provide training for public infrastructure projects are delivered servants on all matters related to Corporation Tax in the years ahead, in order to ensure procurement. Fine Gael is committed to the value for money for the taxpayer. 12.5% Corporation Tax rate and the These reforms are focused on retention of national sovereignty over improved appraisal, cost estimation taxation policy. and management of projects and

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 51 Ensuring that every part of Ireland prospers through Project Ireland 2040

For the first time in Ireland’s history, promised something to everyone and permission being received. This major we have a long-term plan for our ended up doing nothing for anyone. investment will have a significant country’s future development. This is because Project Ireland 2040 impact on jobs and dramatically This plan is Project Ireland 2040. is aligned with the National Planning change the night time culture of the It is a spatial plan, backed up with Framework, which sets out how we are city. an infrastructural investment planning for this population growth. To ensure the vitality of our rural programme. As we look forward to a areas, a significant proportion of population that is expected to grow Balanced growth across growth will be targeted at building up by 1 million by 2040, this is essential. Ireland the fabric of smaller towns, villages Without proper planning and the Project Ireland 2040 will ensure that, and rural areas, with much of this right policies, this population growth over the next 20 years, there will be a happening by redeveloping derelict will continue the ongoing shift in much better and more even balance and underutilised lands inside small population and jobs towards Dublin of growth across Ireland. All regions towns and villages. and the neighbouring counties. This is will grow at broadly comparable rates. in nobody’s interest. We will develop the cities of Cork, Urban Regeneration and Waterford, Limerick and Galway as Development Fund viable alternatives to Dublin. Under Fine Gael has a plan The Project Ireland 2040 Urban Project Ireland 2040, there is scope Two years ago, we started Regeneration and Development Fund for the growth of all towns in Ireland, implementing our plan, Project is helping to rejuvenate significant in particular the key regional towns Ireland 2040. Rather than standing by but underused areas in Ireland’s five of Athlone in the Midlands, Sligo in passively like previous governments, cities and large towns. It is enabling the North-West, as well as the cross- we are using this opportunity to a greater proportion of residential border networks of Letterkenny-Derry ensure sustainable growth over the and mixed-use development to be and -Dundalk-Newry. next 20 years for every corner of delivered within the existing built-up Ireland. We have a strategy to make Cork a footprints of our cities and towns. We are avoiding repeating the real counterbalance to Dublin. We We have ensured that €58 million mistakes of Fianna Fail’s National are strongly supportive of the Cork is available to meet the funding Spatial Strategy 2002-2020, which Event Centre and will help fund its requirements of approved projects in construction, subject to full planning 2019 and this fund has an allocation

52 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Eoghan Murphy Candidate for Dublin Bay South

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 53 of €2 billion to 2027. We are fully enterprise agencies and the regional working, smart health with online GP committed to the vital North Quays stakeholders. We will continue this and nursing services and medical project in Waterford. We will work to approach. We will also place balanced monitoring, cloud-based services and finalise quickly the outstanding details regional development and alignment connected devices, smart farming in relation to the scheme so that the with Project Ireland 2040 at the heart opportunities, digital learning and necessary funding can be provided. of the IDA’s future strategy for 2020- reliable electronic payments and 2025. bookings for people and businesses Rural Regeneration and in every part of the country. Development Fund The role of the public The Project Ireland 2040 Rural sector and state The right balance between Regeneration and Development Fund enterprises in balanced public transport and road is helping drive job creation in rural regional development transport investment areas, reversing the depopulation We will ensure that all new state In relation to new transport of rural communities and enabling agencies and enterprises established infrastructure projects, Project Ireland improvements in our towns and are ideally headquartered outside 2040 sets out a ratio of 2:1 in favour villages with a population of less of Dublin in one of the population of public transport to road transport. than 10,000. The sum of €52 million centres targeted for major growth. We will maintain that ratio into the has been made available to support future, but still ensure there is a strong We will also require that where new projects in 2019 and we have programme of investment in new offices or units of the existing public committed €1 billion to the fund over roads to improve regional connectivity service are being proposed in the 10 years. (e.g., bypasses of congested Greater Dublin Area, a business case towns). We will ensure that our road be undertaken to establish if they can network continues to be maintained Proper and appropriate be located outside the capital and to high standards and that safety planning surrounding counties. Unlike the developer-led Fianna improvements are funded. Fáil housing policy of the 2000s, The collapse of our finances under Project Ireland 2040 is a plan-led High-speed broadband access for every home, Fianna Fáil led to significant curtailing in development, which ensures that the maintenance of our road network, we build housing where there are business and farm across particularly in rural areas. Under Fine the schools, transport links and Ireland Gael, there have been significant amenities that allow communities Fine Gael has taken the decision to increases in road maintenance and to thrive. Fine Gael is committed to roll out the NBP through National repair funding. We will maintain and combatting urban sprawl by insisting Broadband Ireland. It means that we increase that funding. We believe on the development of high-quality will be one of the first countries in it is deeply disingenuous to equate homes at appropriate densities, the world to ensure that every home, spending on required maintenance where residents have access to the business and farm has access to high- and upkeep expenditure on the road amenities and services required for speed broadband. The number of network with new investment in public modern living. households with access to high-speed transport. broadband has increased from 52% in Jobs growth across 2016 to 77% in 2019. We will increase Fine Gael has always placed great this to 100%. importance on accessibility for all parts Ireland of the country. This is recognised in The main contributor to where people This is the largest and most significant Project Ireland 2040, which provides live is the availability of employment. investment ever in rural Ireland. It will funding for an extensive road-building Without a plan for regional jobs, be as revolutionary in the 21st century programme, ensuring that all parts of balanced development is not possible. as rural electrification was for the 20th Ireland are linked not just to Dublin, but Fine Gael was responsible for the first century. also to each other. coherent response to the enterprise No other backed this needs of the regions with the Regional We are placing a particular focus decision. In order to score political Action Plans for Jobs. Employment on improving road access areas, points, they were happy for rural Ireland is now expanding and there are attracting more people to rural to wait. 146,000 more people in employment communities. compared to when Leo Varadkar This decision is central to delivering We will ensure the Local Improvement became Taoiseach. the balanced regional development Scheme is well funded into the future. that is at the heart of Project Ireland Regional Action Plans for jobs acheive 2040. It will enable flexible and remote co-ordination among the national

54 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Rural Ireland’s voice at the heart of Government

When Leo Varadkar became The existing Town and Village In line with the doubling of investment Taoiseach, one of his first acts was Scheme is a grant-based model in our culture, heritage and language to create the Department of Rural dealing mainly with public realm by 2025, we will support Údarás na and Community Development, to works and the renovation of a public Gaeltachta’s work by doubling its ensure that the challenge of rural building for a specified public use. We allocation, including capital, current development was properly prioritised. will also bring forward a new scheme and language planning, based on the We will retain this department to to renovate and bring back into use 2017 level. ensure that rural Ireland’s voice is the substantial number of vacant We will use that additional funding heard loud and clear at the top table of and derelict buildings in our towns to support the over 8,200 people Government. and villages. working in Údarás-backed companies, as well as Údarás’s important work Enabling rural Ireland to The first policy for the in administering the Language thrive islands in more than two Planning Process and carrying out Realising Our Potential: Action Plan for decades the work of LEOs in Gaeltacht areas. Rural Development, brought forward by Fine Gael will ensure that our islands We will prioritise the work of Údarás Fine Gael in 2017, introduced the first have a bright and positive future. in strengthening the identity and ever coordinated, cross-government Sustainable, vibrant communities are branding for our Gaeltacht areas under and cross-agency approach to the only basis on which the long- the ‘Gaeltacht na hÉireann’’ brand supporting rural Ireland. Building on term future of our islands can be and their development of a Tourism this, we will implement the next Action guaranteed. That is why we started Strategy for the Gaeltacht areas. Plan for Rural Ireland this year. developing a new policy for our islands Our new plan is underpinned by the – the first such policy in more than two A modern post office transformational NBP. It will focus on decades. network ensuring that rural Ireland is a place We will ensure that our new Islands’ Fine Gael is fully committed to a where the young believe that they Action Plan will be published this year. sustainable post office network, which have a future to live, work and raise a The Action Plan will take account of is a key piece of economic and social family. important issues such as improving infrastructure for both rural and urban connectivity and transport links and areas. An Post is now implementing A new Town and Village infrastructure, investing in education a new strategic plan to sustain it for Renewal Scheme on our islands, job creation and fully a future that will look quite different, Since 2016, €210 million has been exploiting the potential of tourism. responding to the shifting ways in which invested in rural Ireland through the consumers might use its network. Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Supporting Údarás na The Government provided a €30 Rural Regeneration and Development Gaeltachta million loan to support the required transformation programme and we Fund and the CLÁR programme. This Under Fine Gael, Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to support it. We will funding has supported improvements has been given an expanded and examine the feasibility of setting up a in the public realm, stimulating enhanced role to include the social and shared service for the delivery of offline economic activity and improving the cultural development of our Gaeltacht government services. This could be attractiveness of towns and village communities, as well as economic funded through a PSO. centres for local people and residents. development.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 55 Expanding tourism • Increasing investment in Tourism of Ireland. As set out in the recent opportunities Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, to New Decade, New Approach deal for throughout Ireland improve promote our overall Northern Ireland, we will complete offering as a top quality and the Ulster Canal connection from Tourism is a vital industry that value-for-money destination. Clones to Upper Lough Erne and benefits every part of this country actively promote greenways in and supports the employment of Improving regional border areas. We have allocated more than 260,000 people. This has connectivity approximately €40 million to been an industry that Fine Gael has We understand the importance greenways development over 2020 continuously prioritised since 2011, of air access to tourism and and 2021. and the increase in employment and regional connectivity. In Budget visitor numbers since then bears 2020 we increased the funding The Year of the Invitation testament to this. We will continue to the Tourism Ireland Regional The Gathering in 2013 caught the to expand tourism opportunities Cooperative Marketing Fund imagination of the Irish people, throughout Ireland by: €2.5 million per annum. This fund mobilising communities to organise • Prioritising the development of seeks to encourage new access over 5,000 special Gathering events the Wild Atlantic Way, to bring and maximise the potential of for diaspora and friends. The further sustainable benefits to existing air and sea services to Gathering boosted the number communities along theWestern those areas outside of Dublin. It is of overseas visitors to Ireland, Seaboard, alongside the supported by contributions from generating an estimated €170m in development of Ireland’s Hidden tourism stakeholders (airports and revenue and helping to kick-start Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient ports) and matched by air and sea the strong revival of our tourism East carriers. We will increase the annual sector. We will make 2023 the Year • Developing the Dublin to Cork Exchequer contribution to this fund of the Invitation – a global invitation Coastal Route, to increase the by €2 million. to visit Ireland on the 10-year tourism potential for communities anniversary of The Gathering. in the East and South-East Border Tourism • In vesting heavily in new greenways We believe the border should not and cycle routes, to achieve an be an impediment to developing integrated nationwide network tourism opportunities on the island

56 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Mary Newman Julian Candidate for Tipperary

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 57 A vibrant agri-food sector Our agri-food sector stands for The best possible CAP support to farmers as well as excellence, innovation and resilience. deal for Ireland increasing our environmental It is our most important indigenous Maintaining the Common Agricultural ambition. industry and provides employment Policy (CAP) budget is our top across Ireland. Fine Gael priority in CAP negotiations and Standing up for Irish understands the value of the sector we are busy forming an alliance to interests in trade and is committed to supporting support our position. We will bring negotiations farmers and food businesses. the connections and relationships As an export-led island nation, we The sector’s commitment to we have built up in recent years, rely on overseas markets for the vast sustainability and best-in-class particularly through the Brexit majority of our food produce. We environmental practices will help to negotiations, to bear on the CAP will firmly defend Ireland’s interests grow employment and farm incomes negotiations. Fine Gael is the best- in international trade deals that may in the years ahead. Working with placed political party to negotiate emerge, working with our network farming families, Fine Gael will drive a reform of the CAP that benefits of colleagues in the European innovation to reduce emissions and Ireland. Commission, the EPP and our strong build on Ireland’s green reputation We have clearly signalled that we are team of representatives in the for producing high-quality and prepared to contribute more to the . We will work sustainable produce at the least overall EU budget, if it is spent on closely with the agri-food sector to environmental cost. measures that advance the European secure access to priority markets and ideal. These include programmes that to avail of opportunities that existing The future of farming work and have stood the test of time, markets such as and Japan Fine Gael has delivered on the like the CAP, which has given Europe afford the sector. ambition and targets set out in Food food security and helped to balance We will carry out an economic Harvest 2020 and Foodwise 2025 – regional development across the and sustainability assessment of the strategies outlining our ambition Continent. the headline EU/Mercosur trade for the agri-food and seafood Our aim is to establish a well-funded agreement, to inform future action sectors. The sector employs 174,400 CAP, with farmgate schemes on the ratification of this deal. We will people and, since 2009, exports have developed in consultation with our work with EU colleagues throughout risen in the agri-food sector by 73%, farmers with a simplified system of the lengthy legal refinement process, to €13.7 billion. implementation and inspection for sparing no effort to ensure that We will publish a successor strategy the farming community. Ireland’s interests are prioritised to Foodwise 2025, providing an and maximising protection for the We will develop a flagship agri- ambitious blueprint for the industry agriculture sector. environment scheme under the for the years ahead, growing the new CAP, which is user-friendly for agri-food sector sustainably into farmers, acknowledging the positive Fair distribution of basic the future and supporting vital take up of previous schemes like payments employment in rural Ireland. the Rural Environment Protection We will ensure that direct payments Scheme (REPS), providing income are distributed fairly to active farmers.

58 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Fine Gael introduced a rebalancing We will review the operation of our focus on the strongest animal welfare of payments under the last CAP, succession farm partnership scheme, standards. redistributing approximately €90 which provides a €25,000 tax credit A Protected Geographical Indicator million in the process. We support over five years to assist with the (PGI) for Irish beef the proposal, as published by the transfer of farms within a partnership We will continue to work at EU level European Commission, to cap basic structure. This review will examine for the development of a Protected payments further under the next how the policy may be adjusted to Geographical Indicator (PGI) for Irish CAP. support low-income livestock farmers beef. We will prioritise funds for the with off-farm income. promotion of beef in key markets Implementing the Unfair through Bord Bia. Trading Practice Directive Beef We will establish a regulator to We are fully committed to the future Dairy of the beef sector and the work implement and oversee the Unfair We will invest strategically in the of the Beef Market Taskforce. We Trading Practices Directive. future development of the dairy acknowledge that beef farmers sector, focusing on greater efficiency are experiencing serious hardship Greater transparency and sustainability. We will work with and low-income challenges. We We will improve transparency dairy farmers and other stakeholders will ensure the Beef Taskforce through the establishment of a meat through the Dairy Forum to consider implements the agreement reached market observatory, providing for emerging challenges and will continue with stakeholders in the beef sector, more transparency along the food to focus on developing new markets. supply chain. to encourage greater transparency, cooperation and fairness in the beef We will encourage investment in industry throughout the supply chain. renewable infrastructure on dairy Developing new markets farms to reduce energy costs and We recognise the value of the New markets are essential to will continue to introduce taxation beef industry and are committed the long-term prosperity of our measures to manage evolving issues to supporting farm incomes in agricultural sector. We will continue such as market volatility. We will also this sector. Building on the €300 to focus on opening new markets work with farmers to improve the million Beef Data and Genomics and supporting the promotion of viability of dairy calf-to-beef systems. sustainable, high-quality Irish produce Programme and the €20 million Beef in premium target markets, to give Environmental Efficient Pilot, we will our farmers a competitive advantage. develop a new, user friendly scheme Sheep under the next CAP to support beef We will build on the sheep welfare We are committed to maintaining farmers. scheme under the next CAP, the strongest possible trading demonstrating our continued relationship with the UK, post Brexit. In addition to the exceptional aid that commitment to maintaining numbers However, we also recognise that given we negotiated for the beef sector at in the sheep flock. We will move the level of uncertainty involved in the EU level, we will provide a further €85 to increase the payment per ewe Brexit process, market diversification million in targeted beef schemes in under the Sheep Welfare Scheme is necessary, and we will continue 2020. from €10 to €15. We are committed to support industry in doing so, Establishing more producer to delivering on further export by opening new markets for Irish organisations opportunities for sheep farmers, produce. We will intensify the number We will encourage the establishment on foot of the positive traceability of trade missions and continue of more producer organisations in the measures adopted by the sheep targeted supports in the Department beef sector, to provide farmers with sector and will defend the interests of of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the opportunity to build strength in the sector in trade negotiations. Bord Bia, in order to build on the the marketplace. successes already achieved to date. Pigs Developing live export markets We are committed to further We recognise the critical role that Agri-taxation initiatives investment in capital infrastructure live exports play in the livestock We have successfully introduced on pig farms through future on-farm sector in providing an alternative taxation measures to encourage land investment schemes. We will work outlet for farmers and stimulating mobility and generational renewal. with stakeholders in the pig sector on price competition. We will continue We will specifically introduce further the successor strategy of Foodwise to develop this market, working with measures that will encourage land 2025, open new markets and focus industry to encourage additional mobility and environmentally friendly on animal health in the sector, farming practices on farms. lairage capacity and a continued

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 59 preventing emerging threats such as infrastructure and the producer and environmental performance African Swine Fever. organisation structure. We are aware on all our farms, to position Ireland that the horticulture sector remains at the forefront of sustainable food Poultry very exposed to the uncertain production. We see farming as part We will support further investment outcome of Brexit and will prioritise of the solution to the climate change in the poultry sector, providing for support for the mushroom sector, in challenge. particular, in the context of a no-deal upgrades in poultry facilities and We will work towards reducing Brexit. further improvements in the areas of agricultural emissions by increasing animal health and welfare. carbon sequestration, improving farm Horseracing efficiency, animal breeding strategies, Tillage We are fully committed to the future and animal health and welfare We will assist tillage farmers through of horseracing and will work with policies and through the better use on-farm investment schemes; Horse Racing Ireland in developing of technology. At the heart of this we will work with EU colleagues on the industry over the coming years. approach must be greater efficiencies the issue of fertiliser tariffs; and we We recognise the exposure of this and reduced input costs for farmers. valuable sector to Brexit and will will work with tillage farmers in the Backing Origin Green context of the CAP post-2020 and work with the industry to put in place workable solutions for the We will also continue to support in the development of the next Rural and develop the Origin Green Development Programme and the movement of horses in a post-Brexit environment. We will continue to strategy, which is raising the profile of successor strategy to Foodwise 2025. sustainable farming. Building on the momentum of growth invest in the horseracing industry and in the drinks industry, we will encourage in essential infrastructure, such as the Placing climate mitigation at the opportunities for tillage farmers in this Irish Equine Centre. centre of policy area and will maximise opportunities We will place climate mitigation at for homegrown proteins in animal Horse Sport Ireland the centre of the successor strategy feeds. We have doubled the level of to Food Wise 2025, ensuring that we funding for the horse sport sector remain ambitious for the agri-food Organic sector and will continue to support the sector. implementation of Reaching New Together with stakeholders in the A more environmentally friendly Heights, which underpins the sector. organic sector, we will deliver the 27 CAP cross-sectoral actions set out in the We fully support the ambition of Strategy for Development of Ireland’s Greyhound racing the current CAP proposals to direct Organic Sector, 2019-2025. We will Fine Gael recognises the economic 40% of funds towards climate and work with the organic sector in the and social impact of greyhound environmental objectives, building context of the successor strategy to racing in rural areas. We will fully on the environmental and climate Foodwise 2025 and in the formulation implement the Greyhound Racing change measures introduced under of a new scheme under the CAP post Act 2019, strengthening integrity in the current CAP. 2020, to ensure this important sector the industry and providing for a new is encouraged to grow further into the system of traceability. We will invest in Roadmap for climate action future. greyhound welfare and rehoming as We will implement our roadmap for a priority to ensure adherence to the the agri-food sector, working with highest standards. farmers and industry to deliver on the Horticulture 34 actions in the agriculture agri-food We will support the horticulture sector outlined in the Government’s sector through promotion of Irish Sustainable Irish farming Climate Action Plan 2019 to tackle horticultural products and through We are fully committed to building climate breakdown. continued investment in capital on our reputation for sustainability

60 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Andrew Doyle Candidate for Wicklow

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Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 61 Improved water quality and support the forestry industry, which NeighbourWood Scheme, providing microgeneration employs in the region of 12,000 communities with amenity woodlands We will expand programmes such as people in rural communities. We will for local access and enjoyment. the Agricultural Sustainability Support develop markets for harvested wood To build on National Tree Week, we will and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), products and biofuels, recognising institute a state-sponsored national working with farmers, industry and the important role the commercial Tree Planting Day and provide advisory services to deliver real forestry sector has to play in meeting communities across the country with improvements in water quality. We our climate-change challenge and trees to plant on this day annually. will continue to invest in renewable achieving the goals of the circular energy equipment on farms, providing economy. We will implement the MacKinnon farmers with an opportunity to report on the forestry licensing We will publish a successor reduce their energy costs and to system, clearing existing cases forestry programme to deliver potentially earn additional income without delay. on our ambitious afforestation from microgeneration. We fully objective and further invest in key We will introduce a new and improved support the continuation of the infrastructure such as forest roads. scheme to assist owners of ash Nitrates Derogation and will work To support this increased planting plantations unfortunately infected with derogation farmers to maximise ambition, we will also roll out a with Chalara (Ash Dieback disease). efforts to protect water quality on national promotional campaign on This will offer a broader range of these farms. the benefits of afforestation. options to affected landowners. Supporting biodiversity We will assess the potential of Farmers are the custodians of the state-owned lands for afforestation High standards of animal land and the agri-environment. We to contribute to our overall target, welfare believe that farmers are central to building on the Coillte/Bord na Móna Maintaining the highest animal the protection of biodiversity and initiative in this area. welfare standards is fundamentally maintaining ecosystems. We will important to our agriculture sector. continue to invest strategically in We will support the development of In Government, Fine Gael undertook programmes under the CAP that forestry through the new CAP post- a reform of our 100-year-old animal support biodiversity. We will complete 2020, aligning agri-environment welfare legislation under the Animal a national hedgerow survey, in line with schemes with climate change Health and Welfare Act 2013. This climate action recommendations, objectives and investing further new Act has resulted in the successful and will continue to fund initiatives in knowledge transfer. We will prosecution of close to 100 cases of under agri-environment schemes also invest further in agroforestry, breaches of animal welfare rules. that support biodiversity initiatives in continuous cover forestry, forestry this area, building on our significant for fibre and species diversification. We have substantially increased the funding provided to animal welfare investment in the hen harrier, Our Climate Action Plan features freshwater pearl mussel, apiculture charities. We have introduced a ban several specific recommendations on wild animals in circuses, a national and European Partnerships initiative in relation to forestry. We are fully (EIP) projects. dog microchipping requirement, made committed to implementing these a decision to phase out fur farming We will implement the climate actions, together with stakeholders and introduced an animal welfare adaptation plan for the agri-food in the forestry sector, in a regionally hotline for citizens to report incidences and seafood sector, helping these balanced way. of animal neglect. We have also sectors, which are arguably those We will encourage the private introduced new welfare regulations most affected by the impact of climate sector to meet corporate social concerning the sale of animals in pet change, to adapt with the changed responsibility or sustainability shops and online. environment. objectives by investing in native We will oblige all local authorities woodlands, building on the Woodland to act appropriately to deal with Delivering the forestry Environmental Fund programme. horse welfare issues. We will programme We will invest in schemes that develop additional urban horse Over the next five years, we will promote recreational forestry and will welfare programmes, working reach and maintain a target of work with Coillte on projects such as with local authorities and charities 8,000 hectares of new forestry Coillte Nature, to provide the public involved in equine welfare to provide per annum, the equivalent of 22 with access to recreational forests stabling facilities and educational million trees every year. We fully across the country and will expand the programmes.

62 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

We will support the farm animal Farming in constrained and wellbeing of farmers in their welfare advisory committee in areas communities. Farming can be a enhancing guidelines for animal We are committed to the Areas of dangerous and sometimes isolated owners and keepers. We will publish a Natural Constraint Scheme, directing occupation. Too many families have new animal welfare strategy for Ireland, funds to farmers operating in the experienced the tragedy of serious building on this work, and providing most disadvantaged circumstances. on-farm injury or losing a family strategic direction for the sector in We have fully restored funding under member in an accident. We will work terms of welfare. this scheme to pre-downturn levels with the farming community to minimise the dangers on farms. We will work with the live export market of €250 million per annum and and farmers to continue to enhance will consider any further changes transport conditions for livestock. needed in consultation with farming Social farming organisations in the context of the We are committed to the social Together with dairy processors and next Rural Development Programme. farming model, recognising the value farmers, we will invest in calf feeding of offering farming and horticultural and housing infrastructure and work experience to people availing of ensure that the highest of animal Farm gate investment We will provide grants for on-farm health and social services, including welfare standards are maintained for disability and mental health services. dairy calves. investment, with enhanced grant aid rates for young farmers. We know A TB eradication strategy that capital investment on farms is Supporting female Following on from the valuable work an important support for farmers entrepreneurs of the TB Forum, we will introduce seeking to modernise, increase We will continue to support the a TB 2030 Eradication strategy. efficiency and profitability, and keep Accelerating the Creation Of Rural We will monitor emerging health up with the demands of modern Nascent Start-ups (ACORNS) and disease threats and invest farming enterprise. Programme and seek to expand strategically in programmes. We the support it provides to female will work with Animal Health Ireland Backing agri-enterprises entrepreneurs in the agri-food to develop new programmes in We will support and encourage industry in rural Ireland. partnership with farmers, working farmers interested in availing of viable continuously to make improvements options for diversification across to animal health. Research and innovation a range of areas, including artisan We are fully committed to investment Investing in veterinary food production, agri-tourism, the in research in the agri-food sector, laboratories bioeconomy, agro-forestry and prioritising investment in areas such As part of Project Ireland 2040, we will forestry. as climate and the bioeconomy. We invest €33.5 million in rebuilding the will build on supports provided to the Laboratory Network over the next 10 Investing in young farmers agri-food sector to promote product years. This comprehensive Regional We will invest further in the next diversification and innovation and Veterinary Laboratory programme of generation of farmers under the to address emerging trends and renewal will bring existing facilities up next CAP, encouraging generational demands in the agri-food industry. to date and provide farmers with an change and land mobility to young, enhanced level of customer service educated, trained farmers. This Implementing the and diagnostic support. will build on Fine Gael’s investment National Policy Statement of over €180 million in supports on Bioeconomy Commitment to the for young farmers in recent years We will implement our National Policy Farmers’ Charter through a range of schemes, taxation Statement on the Bioeconomy, We recognise the importance of measures and the National Reserve. providing the agri-food sector with the Farmers’ Charter and will meet new opportunities, using biological agreed targets for the delivery of Wellbeing and farm safety resources from the land and sea in a payments, schemes and services to We will fund a new measure under sustainable and circular manner. farmers. the next CAP specifically aimed at supporting the safety, health

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 63 Our golden years guarantee As people live longer and healthier average’ system with a system that more difficult for some. As such we lives, retirement should be an makes the level of pension directly are setting out our plan, under the opportunity for those who have proportionate to the number of Golden Guarantee, balancing the worked hard and built our country to social insurance contributions made need to provide for current retirees enjoy themselves, free from financial by a person over his or her working while protecting our pension system pressures. life. However, recognising that many for future generations. people’s contribution history will be Fine Gael has begun the necessary 1. We are introducing a new State lower because of taking time out reforms of our pension regime, to Transition Pension for those of paid employment to carry out ensure that it is fit for purpose for retiring at 66, which will be paid caring duties, we will specifically the Ireland of today and the Ireland of at the higher State Contributory acknowledge and allow periods of tomorrow. Pension rate. It will not be means- credits for time spent caring, whether tested but recipients will have to for children or elderly loved ones. Increasing the State be retired and no longer in the workforce Pension by at least €25 Increasing the pension Since the last election, Fine Gael has 2. We are introducing a new State increased the State Pension by €15 age in light of longer life Pathway Pension for those retiring a week. This means that the pension expectancy at 65, by maintaining the current now stands at €248.30 a week for the It is a hugely positive development, payment rate, but eliminating contributory pension and €237 for that people are living longer, healthier Jobseekers criteria. That is, the the non-contributory pension. lives. Over the past 30 years, the life requirement to sign on and be expectancy for a person of 65 has actively seeking work. Building on our track record, we increased by more than five years. guarantee to pensioners that we will 3. We are committed to increasing raise their annual pension by at least As people live longer, then it makes pension payments by at least €25 €25 a week, or €1,300 a year, over the sense that the State Pension age a week, or €1,300 a year, over the next five years. should move to prevent our State next five years. Pension becoming increasingly 4. Introduce a Total Contributions We recognise that some pensioners unsustainable and unaffordable in the Approach for contributory state are more vulnerable than others – longer term. As set out in legislation pensions. particularly those who are living alone. (2014), the State Pension age will In the last budget, we increased 5. Introduce a system of auto- move from 66 to 67 in 2021 and then enrolment. the Living Alone Allowance by €5 a to 68 in 2028. week. We will make further targeted 6. We will engage with employers to increases over the lifetime of the next Other countries are doing the same allow people to stay in work longer Government. as Ireland but at a different pace. should they wish to do so. We will engage with employers and By making these improvements now, Total contributions unions under the Labour Employer we are providing financial certainty for Economic Forum (LEEF) to reassess all retirees. approach the pace at which the pension age is We will introduce the total being raised taking fully into account contributions approach for actuarial projections about the Social Letting those who want to contributory state pensions for Insurance Fund. work later in life do so newly retired people. This will firmly Fine Gael recognises the skills, establish fairness at the heart of We understand that while many experience and contribution of older the contributory pension regime workers wish to remain in the work people. We will work with employers by replacing the current ‘yearly place, these changes may prove to ensure that valued employees

64 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to can continue to work after reaching the scheme will be finalised following employed, or who fall outside the retirement, should they wish to do consultations with the public and income threshold. so, while still leading a slower pace stakeholders. Fine Gael will introduce this new of life. Fine Gael is committed to delivering pension scheme in 2022, so that We have already changed the law to an automatic enrolment scheme people of all ages and professions can allow public servants who want to based on the following principles: start saving for their retirement years stay on until the age of 70. with the help of their employers and 1. Matching contributions will the State. As part of this, we will enable people be made by both workers and to defer receipt of their state employers and the State will top Automatic Enrolment will supplement contributory pension on an annual up contributions the State Pension, which will remain basis to include actuarial increases 2. There will be a phased roll- the bedrock of the Irish pension in payment. We will also facilitate out – over a decade – of the system. It will also complement the those without a full social insurance contribution made by workers existing supplementary pension record to increase their retirement system. 3. There will be an opt-out provision by choosing to continue provision for those who choose Maintaining the Free Travel making PRSI payments beyond to opt out Scheme pensionable age. 4. Workers will have the choice of We are fully committed to a range of retirement savings maintaining the entitlement for the Helping people to retire in products to choose from Free Travel Scheme for all individuals financial security aged 66 and over. We will work 5. There will be a charges cap While the State Pension is an with private bus operators and the imposed on pension providers. important part of people’s financial National Transport Authority (NTA) security in old age, it should not be We will also subsequently allow for so that the Free Travel Scheme is the only element. Unfortunately, an opt-in system for individuals who available on all publicly licensed bus for too many citizens it is. Too are outside the workforce, self- routes. few workers are part of a pension scheme, with almost half not enrolled within one. It is especially worrying that younger workers are not enrolled within a pension scheme. This lack of provision will make it harder for them to have a comfortable retirement, but given the complexity of pension schemes, as well as the opaque charging regime, it is understandable why many workers do not take up a pension, unless it is part of their employment. Our auto-enrolment plan In line with best international Ellen O’Malley practice, Fine Gael has started the Dunlop process of bringing in a system of Candidate for auto-enrolment for Irish workers Dublin South West in defined contribution pension schemes. Under this regime, all workers (except those who are members of existing pension schemes) aged between 23 and 60 and earning more than €20,000 per annum will be automatically enrolled in a Candidate for pension scheme at the start of their Dublin Bay North employment. The exact design of

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 65 Providing more homes without repeating the mistakes of the past

Fine Gael is the party of home demonstrable progress. The most refund to €30,000 for first-time ownership. We believe that home recent figures (Q3 2019) show that buyers for new or self-build properties ownership should be within reach more than 20,000 new homes were valued at up to €500,000. of all our citizens, but for many this built over the previous 12 months, the aspiration does not feel real. More most in a decade. In the same period, Rebuilding Ireland Home than 40,000 first-time buyers have construction work began on more Loan bought a home since 2017. With than 26,000. The total completed In 2018, Fine Gael introduced the the increased supply of new housing in 2015, the year before Rebuilding Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. and the stabilisation of house prices Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and This allows first time buyers with over the past year, we now have the Homelessness was launched, was just a joint income of €75,000, or an opportunity to reverse the trend in over 7,200. This continued increase individual income of €50,000 – who declining home ownership, which has in supply – coupled with a levelling-off cannot secure a mortgage from been falling since 1991. in house prices – is encouraging. We a commercial lender – to access believe that in the order of 35,000 - We will continue our work to sustainable mortgage finance. As 40,000 new homes are needed every increase the level of home building, of the end of September 2019, the year to meet demand and will work but we must adopt a sensible and scheme has helped 1,253 people buy to achieve and maintain this level of responsible approach, to avoid their first home. home building over the course of the repeating the mistakes of the Celtic next five years. We will continue and expand the Tiger era. During that period, reckless Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for bank lending drove record house Helping first-time buyers a further five years with sufficient prices and fuelled unsustainable finance so more people can avail of it. debt; homes were often built to poor with their deposit standards; and basic services and The Help to Buy (HTB) Scheme infrastructure were not provided for introduced by Fine Gael in 2016 has Mortgages for households living in poorly located helped almost 16,000 first-time homebuyers developments. We will not repeat buyers to purchase their first home. We fully respect the independence the mistakes of the past: our people The scheme provides for a refund of of the Central Bank of Ireland and deserve better. income tax and DIRT of up to €20,000 the rules it sets for the sector. These to help first-time buyers to secure a rules will protect us from repeating Ensuring that we continue deposit to buy or self-build a home. the mistakes of the past. to increase supply in the We will continue the HTB Scheme for the duration of the next Dáil. Shared Home Ownership housing market We believe that this scheme is the Following the unprecedented crash, Scheme appropriate way to support first-time a decade ago, the most important Between now and 2025, we will buyers and to encourage the building issue was ensuring that we resumed directly provide more than 10,000 of new homes. building new homes. After a difficult newly built homes at affordable prices, few years, we are now seeing real, We will increase the maximum HTB on both public and private lands. The purchase price will be reduced

66 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

because the State is funding essential Over the next five years, we will add at certainty and security, and longer services needed to make sites viable least a further 60,000 homes to the leases. for housing using infrastructure social housing stock. Building on this, we will introduce funding (Serviced Sites Fund and Local In tandem with the massive increase legislation to provide for tenancies Infrastructure Housing Activation in the provision of social housing, we of long-term or indefinite duration, Fund (LIHAF)) of more than €0.5 will implement a reform programme which will provide for much greater billion. These homes will be delivered to ensure that the housing stock is stability and security for tenants. through local authorities and in line better maintained and managed in with recently approved Affordable We will continue the Residential the long-term interests of all those in Purchase Schemes. A clawback Tenancies Board (RTB) change need of social housing. will apply to any future sale of the programme, transforming it into an property. These measures are aimed Our Social Housing Passport will independent and strong regulator for at supporting people with an income allow households to move from tenants and landlords. This will build of less than €50,000 per annum and one local authority list to another, on the powers introduced last year couples with a joint income of less thus providing people with as many and new rent transparency measures than €75,000. Fine Gael will keep these housing options as possible. to come later this year. income limits under review as incomes We will protect the right of tenants in Encouraging landlords to provide rise. In addition, we will provide seed social housing to buy their own home. long-term tenancies capital to local authorities to provide However, we will require such tenants Fine Gael is committed to a serviced sites in towns and villages at to be in situ for at least 10 years and comprehensive review of the tax cost to owner occupiers. limit the discount to 25% of the treatment of landlords. This will We will also explore allowing local market value of the property. This will ensure that smaller landlords, who authorities to increase Part V facilitate home ownership, while still provide most of the rental stock, are provisions to 30% for social and ensuring that the social housing stock not unfairly treated compared with affordable homes within new housing is protected. larger, institutional landlords. We will encourage landlords to provide developments, depending on local We will ensure that our social housing long-term tenancies, offering greater need and social mix. This could include stock is properly maintained, with stability to renters. designating up to 20% as cost rental. any future increase in differential rents ring-fenced for maintenance Cost rental as a real option The largest social housing programmes. This funding will be We will develop cost rental for our programme in decades in addition to the National Social cities and large towns. Fine Gael has We are delivering the largest social Housing Retrofit programme. initiated two cost rental projects in housing programme in decades. Over Dublin. the past three years, there has been Ensuring a fair deal for a huge ramping up in the number of renters Tackling the new homes added to the stock of Fine Gael introduced the legislation homelessness crisis social housing. Last year, this number to bring in a 4% annual cap on Homelessness has a devastating grew by 10,000. More than 6,000 rent increases within designated impact on families and individuals. of these were new builds, while the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs). This Resolving this crisis is among the balance were long-term leases or legislation is due to expire in 2021. To most important challenges facing our the purchase of vacant properties, protect tenants from rental inflation, country and Fine Gael is absolutely where it was better value for money we will extend these provisions, if committed to ensuring that the most than a new build. 2020 will be a record necessary. vulnerable have access to safe and year for social housing delivery, with secure accommodation. The number In addition to the introduction of 11,000 homes to be provided, close of rough sleepers (92) has fallen to its RPZs, Fine Gael has significantly to three-quarters of which will be new lowest level since November 2015, improved tenant protections and builds. This year, we will build more while the number of families and is moving the Irish rental market social homes than were built in any of individuals coming into homeless towards the rental model found in the last 20 years. services has stabilised. We will work other European states, with rent hard across Government and with

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 67 the NGO sector to end the use of addiction or have come out of state family hubs providing accommodation hotels and B&Bs as emergency institutions. They require individualised for approximately 690 families. These accommodation. However, until care and assistance to successfully are not permanent solutions; they housing supply reaches the required move from homelessness to a reflect the need to provide suitable level, emergency accommodation will sustainable tenancy. This is why accommodation to vulnerable families still be required. Fine Gael is committed to the until homes are delivered through the implementation of Housing First. social housing programme. Preventing homelessness Housing First represents best We understand that families and In Government, we will continue to international practice in addressing individuals at risk of homelessness ensure that all state agencies work homelessness and recognises that need help and support. This is why we together to provide appropriate a stable home provides the basis will continue to fund services to help supports to those who need them, for recovery in other areas. So far, people to avoid losing their home, including the departments of Children 341 homeless individuals have been including the national Mortgage and Youth Affairs, Health, Education housed under Housing First and 88% Arrears Resolution Service, Abhaile, and Skills, Employment Affairs and of these have successfully retained which has helped more than 12,000 Social Projection, the HSE and Tusla. housing. We will create a further 400 households at risk of losing their tenancies nationwide by the end Leaving homelessness for a home homes, and the Mortgage to of 2021, helping to further reduce While the number of families Rent schemes, which allow local rough sleeping in many areas of the and individuals in emergency authorities and approved housing country, and we will build on this in accommodation demonstrates the bodies to acquire ownership of subsequent years. We will achieve scale of the challenge, progress is properties with unsustainable this by directing local authorities to being made. Almost 4,400 adults and mortgages. This means that build one-bedroom homes to reduce their children exited homelessness households in financial difficulty the number of single people on local to a home in the first nine months of can remain in their homes as social authority waiting lists. 2019 – an increase of 19% compared housing tenants. To date, 600 with the same period in 2018. This Fine Gael will also continue to fund families have remained in their will increase as we continue to fund essential outreach services, including homes under these schemes, with investment in our social housing emergency beds to help people who more than 1,100 in train. We will programme. also continue to fund the freephone are sleeping rough to access shelter national tenancy protection service and other supports. Fine Gael will ensure that supports for renters, which is operated by are provided to local authorities to Better emergency accommodation Threshold, and the National Tenancy help individuals and families move and family hubs for when they must Sustainment Framework, which out of emergency accommodation. be used is operated by the Department This includes the Homeless HAP The Dublin Regional Homelessness of Employment Affairs and Social Place Finder service, which assists Executive has set out a national Protection. households in identifying a home and quality standards framework (The also provides access to deposits and Homelessness Action Plan Framework As a result of our efforts to date, one rental payments. in two families in Dublin presenting to for Dublin, 2019–2021) to ensure a homeless services are found a home more consistent approach to how Meeting the health needs of our without having to enter emergency local authorities and service providers homeless accommodation. respond to the needs of those We know that people without a home experiencing homelessness. This can experience serious and complex We will also continue to resource the framework is being introduced across health conditions, and can face Residential Tenancies Board in its the country on a phased basis. We will barriers in accessing the care they work to inform tenants and landlords ensure that it is fully implemented by need. It is essential that a joined-up about their legal rights and the July 2020. approach is taken by local authorities, application and enforcement of rent community healthcare organisations Through the provision of on- restrictions in RPZs. and voluntary service providers site supports, we are continuing More Housing First tenancies working together to connect with and to build family hubs to provide Many people who sleep rough and support homeless people. more appropriate emergency who are frequent users of emergency accommodation for families and to Through the national implementation hostels and shelters have complex reduce the time spent in emergency of Housing First initiatives we are needs around mental health and accommodation. There are now 30 providing vital wrap-around health

68 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Damien English Candidate for Meath West Sarah Reilly Candidate for Meath West

supports for people experiencing or in St James Hospital and the Land Development at risk of homelessness, particularly Mater University Hospital) to Agency those with addiction and mental ensure continuity of care for Drawing on best practice from health needs. This includes key homeless people leaving hospital countries like the Netherlands and workers, case management, GP, and returning to emergency and Germany, Fine Gael in Government nursing services, peer support and supported accommodation established the Land Development other specialist care. • Deliver enhanced in-reach and Agency (LDA) in September 2018. outreach health services for people Under the North East Inner-City The LDA is the State’s land developer living in emergency and supported (NEIC) initiative, we opened the and is filling a long-heralded accommodation country’s first inclusion health hub need for the Irish State to take a (July 2019). This service incorporates • C ontinue to fund Ireland’s first more interventionist role in land a dedicated Case Management Step Up Step Down Intermediate management and development. The Team for people experiencing Care Centre for people who are immediate focus of the LDA is on homelessness. homeless, providing specialised managing state lands to develop new healthcare for homeless people Since 2016 we have allocated an affordable homes and to regenerate additional €6 million for targeted • Open a 100-bed medical treatment underutilised sites. The LDA is already measures to improve health and recovery facility in Dublin for developing housing projects across outcomes for people who are people who are homeless and Ireland. require addiction supports, which homeless. In the longer-term, the LDA will we have already funded We will: have a broader role in assembling • F und a new 20 bed residential strategic land banks, both public and • Provide an additional €12 million to treatment service in the mid-west private, and making these available continue improve services through region (Limerick) for homeless for housing in a controlled manner, Housing First women and their children who bringing essential long-term stability • R oll out a Homeless Hospital have been impacted by substance to the housing market. Discharge Programme (piloted misuse. We will ensure that the primary

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 69 legislation to place the LDA on a permission. This will provide homes land sold for housing by national or firmer statutory basis is passed as in multi-unit developments and on local Government – at least 30% of a matter of urgency. We will also sites close to public transport, local homes must be made available for ensure the LDA is capitalised with amenities and services. As with the affordable purchase or cost rental. €1.25 billion of funding from the Irish shared home ownership scheme, This is in addition to the standard Strategic Investment Fund. the local authority will take an equity 10% minimum requirement for social share to the value of the discount, to housing. be repaid by owners over time or upon Financing for home- The LDA has been tasked with the sale of the property. The scheme building carrying out an audit of all state lands. will only be open to owner occupiers. Small builders, particularly those This will be the basis for the first The fund will help deliver compact outside the big population centres, comprehensive database of publicly- urban growth objectives under Project have faced challenges in securing owned lands and will be extremely Ireland 2040. finance from mainstream banks for important for future planning. On viable residential development. That In conjunction with this, Fine Gael will one level, it will identify larger tracts is why Fine Gael established Home expand the role of Vacant Homes of land that may be used for major Building Finance Ireland to make such Officers in local authorities, to drive housing development or land swaps, funding available. We will ensure that it and implement the existing policies but it will also identify smaller plots of delivers on its mandate to fund small on town and village renewal and to land in villages, towns and cities that housing projects across Ireland. encourage residential occupancy. may not be suitable for large-scale development, but which could be However, we recognise there will used to build homes and strengthen Providing more housing in always be a demand for ‘one-off’ the core of those areas. our town and villages housing, and we will take a practical We will help local authorities to approach, which recognises that many provide serviced sites in the existing people in rural Ireland want to build Capturing the public footprint of our towns and villages their own homes, so that they can live, benefit from land rezoning for individuals and couples to buy work and rear their families in their local The decision to rezone land often at cost price and to build on. We will community. results in a windfall for landowners, provide seed capital funding for this and fuels speculation instead of We will continue our reforms to drive measure, which will be self-financing. making efficient use of land for the the delivery of apartments in our major public good. These windfall gains are We will provide 1,400 sites across the urban centres, which have removed the product of state interventions, country over the next five years in height caps and the requirement for not entrepreneurship. It is important towns and villages with populations car parking among other measures, that the rezoning of land benefits of less than 2,000. These will be and which the industry says has helped the community to the greatest capable of delivering 8,600 homes. to reduce apartment construction extent possible. Fine Gael will work to costs by up to 20%. We will introduce capture, through the taxation system, targeted incentives. Provision of serviced sites a significant proportion of the windfall for affordable housing and Working with local authorities, as gains that occur. to encourage compact their city and county development urban growth plans are reviewed from early 2020, Use it or lose it planning Low- to middle-income households we will develop a follow-on plan from permissions face an affordability challenge. Fine Rebuilding Ireland, to ensure that The Strategic Housing Development Gael has already introduced the €310 development is based on evidence (SHD) process has greatly improved million Serviced Sites Fund to deliver identifying the future needs of local the speed at which large-scale infrastructure on local authority lands, communities and capable of providing housing applications are considered which will provide 6,200 homes to be an appropriate mix of housing types and decided. While it has provided sold at discounts of up to €50,000 for households of all incomes and certainty, it is clear that some from the market price to eligible size. This furthers our reform of the developers have used the speedier couples and individuals. planning system from developer-led planning permission process to planning to more sustainable plan-led Fine Gael will extend this fund to improve the value of their sites, rather development. private lands. Local authorities than quickly building new homes. We will allocate funding to house have already committed to keeping builders in areas with a proven State lands for housing the SHD process in place until affordability challenge, giving priority We will legislate for stated 2021 at the latest and introducing to developments with planning government policy that – for any a ‘use it or lose it’ provision, if

70 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to planning permissions are not acted country – over one-fifth of our total with the Older Peoples Councils upon within 18 months of being population. across the country. granted. We will extend these use Their knowledge, experience and it or lose it provisions to all housing skills acquired over a lifetime will help Remediation supports for developments of 10 or more homes our communities to flourish and those impacted by mica from 2021. will benefit our society in so many and pyrite ways. But, our ageing population The Government is committed to Planning reform also requires additional resources helping to fund the remediation (or We have commenced a and supports, and we are identifying repair) of homes affected by mica comprehensive reform of judicial them now so that we can effectively and pyrite under a rolling funding reviews across the planning system, meet them in the future. This includes programme, prioritising those worst to ensure that large-scale housing, making sure that the state pension is affected first. To date, almost €126 renewable energy, public transport sustainable. million has been provided under the and other essential infrastructure Pyrite Remediation Scheme. The projects are not unduly delayed by In this future Ireland, we want to see older people living in their own homes latest scheme will be published on 31 vexatious objections. This includes January. a requirement that the planning and communities, leading healthy and active lives, travelling with ease, and process is completely exhausted Conducting a full review before judicial reviews are sought. respected as valued contributors in our communities. of management company We will build on our recent major shift legislation Reforming the CPO Fine Gael knows that there are regime in policy direction by implementing Sláintecare and the Integrated Care significant challenges facing residents We will consolidate compulsory in housing developments run by purchase legislation into one piece of Programme for Older People, and we will continue to manage this change management companies. We will legislation and use this opportunity conduct a full review of the existing to further simplify the CPO system, process to ensure better outcomes for all people, as they age. legislation and its operation to ensure particularly with regard to bringing that the management company derelict and vacant properties and In line with the policy statement structure operates efficiently in the unused development land into use. Housing Options for Our Ageing best interests of residents. A special We will place an obligation on the Population, we will work to ensure that working group is being established to affected party to make themselves our ageing population has a range of do this. known if ownership cannot be options for living independently and traced through the appropriate state alternatives to long-term residential Helping apartment agencies. This will encourage the use care to support ageing in place. We will of vacant and derelict sites, and we will provide smaller homes on infill sites to owners to access finance retain the vacant site levy to ensure ensure that older people can remain for long-term works that land banks are property utilised. living in their communities, close to We also know that there are We will also reform the current essential services and facilities. This significant defects in many system to make it more efficient. approach will mean that Ireland is well developments with regard to the lack prepared to offer the best quality of life of sinking funds to complete non- Opportunities and for people as they age. routine maintenance programmes. We have improved building controls challenges for an ageing A huge amount of hard work is taking to ensure homes are built to the population place to support positive ageing and appropriate standards. We will work We owe a debt to the older we will continue to fund programmes with homeowners, State agencies generation for building our country such as the Age Friendly Ireland and financial institutions to help them and for contributing so much to our Shared Service. Most importantly, we help them to access long-term, low- communities. By 2041, there will be will listen to the voice of older people cost finance. 1.4 million people aged over 65 in our through meaningful consultation

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 71 Protecting our environment and moving decisively towards a zero-carbon future

Fine Gael is driving action at national energy communities five-fold and Putting our ambition into and local level to reduce greenhouse • ensure 500,000 more commutes law gas emissions and to improve our to work and education are taken We will increase our commitment to natural environment. This will give us by public transport, cycling and stopping climate change by enacting cleaner air, warmer homes, shorter walking. the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill commutes and a better quality of in 2020. This will give legislative effect life, while preventing catastrophic • By 2040, we will have planted to many of the elements already set climate change. We will implement in an additional 440 million trees, out in the Climate Action Plan. full our Climate Action Plan, which will equating to 8,000 hectares of new be updated annually and monitored forestry every year. Accountability will be at the heart of quarterly. We will increase public Fine Gael is committed to reducing this new law, including: transport services, take decisive Ireland’s domestic greenhouse gas • Banning the sale of new petrol and steps to encourage more walking emissions by 2030 by at least 30%, diesel cars from 2030 and cycling and continue to ‘green’ compared to 2005 levels, and to • Putting net zero by 2050 into law; our agricultural sector. We will also achieving net-zero-carbon emissions protect farmers and implement the by 2050. This means that any • Making the adoption of carbon planning reforms –set out in Project emissions generated in the economy budgets, setting maximum Ireland 2040 – needed to prevent by 2050 will be offset, for example, by emissions by sector, a legal further urban sprawl. planting trees that absorb carbon. requirement • Establishing the Climate By 2030, we will deliver a fourfold Our Climate Action Plan will ensure that Action Council as a successor increase in the number of renewables we create the green jobs and green organisation to the Climate connected to the grid. But, we will also businesses that will be the backbone Change Advisory Council. massively increase retrofitting activity, of our economy for decades to come. electric vehicle (EV) uptake, the use of This is a major programme of public transport, walking and cycling, Transforming the change, but it is absolutely possible while also planting 8,000 hectares of electricity system with the right plans and the right new forestry every year. Over the next decade, we will increase leadership. Fine Gael has a clear electricity generated from renewable We will: understanding of the challenges sources to 70%. • Increase by ten times the current ahead. Most importantly, we know level of retrofitting activity how to work collaboratively with We will bring forward the necessary • Increase by fifty times the current individuals, families, businesses and legislative and regulatory changes level of electric vehicles uptake wider society on how to achieve the to ensure the required expansion of level of ambition required. renewable energy, including offshore • Increase the number of sustainable wind generation. We will develop a

72 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

new offshore wind sector, including sustainable way. We will assess the as technological change such as the delivery of 3.5 gigawatts of role of gas and explore the role that AI and robotics. A Just Transition is offshore wind capacity by 2030. We other technologies can play in the about ensuring that all sections of will enact the Marine Planning and transition to a zero-carbon future, our society contribute and that those Development Management Bill in such as battery storage, pumped most exposed or least equipped to 2020 to achieve this. storage, interconnection, hydrogen, make changes will be helped. We biomethane and carbon-capture and are committed to supporting these This year, we will hold the first storage. workers and communities with a Just Renewable Electricity Support Scheme Transition, to ensure that they have (RESS) auction. This flagship policy We will publish updated planning opportunities in the future and the will be essential to decarbonising guidelines for onshore wind, taking skills to take advantage of them. Jobs our electricity grid, harnessing our into account best international may become redundant, but people natural resources and bringing practice around noise, shadow flicker will not. renewable energy into the heart and set-back distance. of our communities. The RESS will The first test of Just Transition in take account of international best Funding climate action the Midlands practice and include at its core a Historic levels of money are being The first test of this Just Transition focus on community investment invested to tackle climate change is in the Midlands, which will be and ownership. Consumers will be and to transform our energy systems. significantly impacted by the move protected through the competitive This funding includes over €27 billion away from peat harvesting and nature of the auction. to drive the transition to a zero- electricity generation. By 2021, we will have established a carbon economy. Measures include: We will prioritise the following actions new microgeneration scheme to allow • Ring-fencing €6 billion of carbon in the Midlands, to ensure that we homeowners, schools, farmers and tax revenue for climate action, Just deliver a Just Transition for workers communities that generate renewable Transition and reducing energy and the region: electricity to sell back to the grid any poverty • An €80 million Enhanced Peatland electricity they do not use. • Investing €21.8 billion through Restoration and Rehabilitation We will ensure that we build the €1 Project Ireland 2040, including a scheme to run over four years, billion Celtic Interconnector to connect €500 million Climate Action Fund, which will restore thousands of Ireland’s electricity network to France funded by an oil industry levy hectares of Bord na Móna bogs to via an underwater connection. Once a high standard, so that they can built, its 700 megawatts capacity will • €80 million for a bog restoration store carbon, foster biodiversity power 450,000 households, and help programme in the Midlands, funded and provide 200 jobs. This will be Ireland to switch to 70% renewable through the repurposed PSO levy. funded through the existing but electricity, as set out in the Climate Leveraging non-exchequer repurposed electricity PSO levy, Action Plan. investment can increase the which will be subject to approval from the European Commission. By 2023, we will end the use of peat impact of state funding. The State’s for electricity generation, and no later investment of €70 million in the • An €11 million Just Transition than 2025 for coal. As part of the Just first round of the Climate Action Fund in 2020 targeted at the Transition, we will continue to engage Fund is leveraging total investment Midlands to fund retraining and with workers and companies to ensure of over €300 million, which is being reskilling workers and to assist local that there are opportunities for those used to drive decarbonisation communities and businesses in the impacted to be retrained and to secure across the transport, heat, midlands in adjusting to the low employment in other areas. electricity and agriculture sectors, carbon-transition while demonstrating the types of • A €5 million fund in 2020 for the We will also carry out a review of investments we need to make. the security and sustainability of National Parks and Wildlife Service our energy system. We will consider Just Transition is essential (NPWS) to restore 1,800 hectares the actions needed to take to We will support any individual workers of non-Bord na Móna bogs in ensure that our electricity system and communities which may be seven counties, creating 70 jobs is backed up in a secure, safe and negatively impacted by the transition in year one, rising to 100 as the to a low-carbon economy, as well programme develops

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 73 • A €20 million fund in 2020 to deliver • Start with social homes owned by an additional 500,000 public transport a new model to group housing the local authorities, and move to and active travel journeys every day upgrades together as set out in include privately-owned properties by 2035. the Climate Action Plan. Targeted in the community To achieve this, Project Ireland 2040 at the Midlands, this will support • Provide easy access to advice and has linked infrastructure investment an estimated 400 jobs directly and assurance on work standards with spatial planning for the first indirectly, as well as significantly • Develop easy pay-back models time. This will pay dividends in the upgrading the social stock in the allowing people to pay as they save years ahead. We cannot go back to region. (e.g., through utility bills) the haphazard planning attempts The first Just Transition • Put smart finance in place (e.g. demonstrated by Fianna Fáil in the Commissioner has been appointed loan guarantee models, European past. and will help ensure a coordinated and Investment Bank funding). effective approach to Just Transition Over the next five years, we will for communities and workers Budget 2020 provided €20 million revolutionise public transport in the affected by the imminent ending of to commence this process, which Greater Dublin Area by completing the peat harvesting for power generation will begin in the Midlands. We will BusConnects programme and ensuring in the Midlands region. finalise a new model and publish an that MetroLink proceeds through implementation plan for national roll- planning and to construction. Our vision is that the Midlands should out during 2020. become a leader in other areas of the DART Expansion will be well underway. green economy, such as retro-fitting. Under Project Ireland 2040, more This will result in new DART services Also, bog rehabilitation and tourism than €3 billion has been allocated operating between Dublin city centre will ensure that our bogs continue to for retrofitting up to 2027. We will and Drogheda, Maynooth – M3 be a source of employment. To this supplement this with additional Parkway and Hazelhatch – Celbridge, end, we will progress the idea of a new funding from the ring-fenced revenues and improve capacity and services national peatlands park and centre of the . across the entirety of the network. in the Midlands, in order to exhibit The retrofitting sector provides We will work with the NTA to conclude the environmental and social impact substantial job opportunities, a new Greater Dublin Area Transport of bogs on Ireland’s natural and built particularly in rural Ireland. We will Strategy for the period 2021 to 2036, heritage and to showcase the story of ensure that the Education and Training within the first year of being returned our bogs to the world. Boards (ETBs) provide training and to office. We will ensure the extension Learning from the Midlands for retraining opportunities for anyone of the Luas to Finglas is considered other communities and workers who wants a career in this area. within that process, as well as extensions to Poolbeg, Bray and Lucan We will learn from this and apply As well as making homes warmer, we and the rail link into . We will also it on a bespoke basis to other will move away from heating homes explore the feasibility of extending communities and workers who with fossil fuels. We will establish a MetroLink to other locations including are impacted disproportionately pay-as-you-save scheme for heat UCD, south-west Dublin; extending by both the move to a low-carbon pumps, to allow homeowners to the Luas network to Hazelhatch and future and/or technology change, spread the cost of installing the Booterstown; explore other transport such as Moneypoint in Clare. There technology by repaying over time options to reduce dependency on the is no one-size-fits-all approach, as through their electricity bills. some challenges will be regional, as private car and evaluate the need for underground metro routes within the with peat, but others will be sectoral Investing in public across the country and affect people M50. working in particular types of jobs transport Fine Gael will make Ireland’s cities Our ambitious transport plans cover (e.g., home heating oil installation and and towns better places in which to the entire country. We will extend the petrol stations). live. Public transport, walking and NTA’s statutory remit to cover the cycling are central to our ambitions cities of Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Our plan for warmer to improve air quality and reduce Galway, as well as Drogheda, Dundalk, homes congestion. Under Project Ireland Sligo, Athlone and Letterkenny We will develop a new retrofitting 2040, investment in new public and their hinterlands. This will allow delivery model which will: transport is twice the level of that transport strategies in our cities, allocated to new road projects, regions and across rural Ireland – • Group homes in the same area already underway or required – to together to drive down costs demonstrating our commitment in this area. We will achieve a target of benefit from a strong legal basis.

74 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

We will ensure that the Cork Crucially, we will protect existing to fund improvements and initiatives Metropolitan Area Draft Transport services by continuing to ensure based on local need. Strategy 2040, which has been subject that the level of payment required to As part of this and building on to public consultation, is fully funded operate the PSO fleet is adequate the success of the Cycle Right in the National Development Plan. to maintain and improve service programme, we will ensure that all This will include improved commuter capacity and frequency. children in primary school are offered rail services, 100 kilometres of bus cycling training. lanes, the development of a light Making cycling a real rail system, an extensive cycleway option for more people We will also conduct a review of road traffic legislation as it relates network and significant road Increasing the number of people to cycling, to ensure that current improvements. walking and cycling as part of their legislation is appropriate. We will deliver the BusConnects daily lives has huge health and programmes planned for Dublin, environmental benefits for the Cork and Galway, which will include individual and society, helping to A national cycling network dedicated bus corridors, increased improve air quality and reducing Working with local authorities and capacity, segregation of cycle ways congestion. However, a major other agencies, we will continue to and new stops. These plans will impediment to greater uptake is that identify and invest in new greenways involve extensive public consultation. our road and street network is not and cycle routes to achieve an designed with the pedestrian or cyclist integrated national network and We will task the NTA to produce a in mind. improve facilities for commuters, Park and Ride Implementation Plan leisure cyclists and tourists. for each of the five cities, to help By the end of this year, we will reduce congestion and journey times. have developed cycle network We will also provide help to local These strategies will integrate car plans for each of the five cities and authorities to convert lightly trafficked parking facilities with public transport will commence implementation roads to specially designated Priority and cycling networks and will include immediately thereafter. Cycle Routes with special safety features, including limiting access the provision of secure lockers for We will update guidance on street, road bicycles. to vehicular traffic and providing and cycleway design to take account improved surfaces and sight lines and Improved connectivity across our of best practice internationally. The reduced speed limits. island is essential for ensuring our number of people in Ireland cycling to long-term prosperity. Fine Gael will work rose by 43% between 2011 and ring-fence a portion of the carbon 2016. Huge progress is being made, Moving from diesel and tax for public transport in rural but more needs to be done, as this petrol to electric-powered areas, leading to new routes and only represents 3% of commuters. vehicles Over the next decade, we will move improved services across road and rail We will publish a five year plan to transport. from a car fleet that is almost entirely increase the numbers of people fossil fuelled to one that is largely Fine Gael is also committed to cycling on a daily basis to work from powered by electricity. Electric improving the rail line between Dublin, 57,000 now to at least 120,000. vehicles (EVs) will reach total cost Cork and Belfast, and will complete an We will reverse the decline in the of ownership-parity with diesel economic evaluation of a high speed number of children walking and and petrol engines by circa mid- link between Dublin-Belfast, Dublin- cycling to primary and secondary 2020s. The move to EVs will lead to Limerick Junction and Dublin-Cork. school. We will do this by requiring much improved air quality in our cities We will compare this option to what the Department of Transport to and towns and associated health can be achieved by upgrading the work with schools, local authorities, benefits. existing line and advance the best the Green Schools programme option. To give absolute certainty to the and local initiatives, including Cycle sector that this move is real, we will In line with Project Ireland 2040, a Bus, to identify barriers that prevent legislate to ban the registration of new review has been commissioned to children, especially girls, from walking fossil-fuelled powered cars and other examine the potential and viability of and cycling. This will include an light vehicles from 2030 onwards. completing the Western Rail Corridor examination of local speed limits and Phase 2 from to Tuam and road conditions, which may present a We will review the current motor Phase 3 to Claremorris. If there is safety concern for parents. An initial taxation regime, to ensure that a positive business case, we will €6 million a year from the proceeds of it adequately captures the harm proceed with these projects. the carbon tax will be made available caused by NOx (nitrogen oxide) and

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 75 Candidate for Cork North Central

Simon Coveney Candidate for Cork South Central

SOx (sulphur oxide) emissions. This the purchase of EVs. The cost of generate our electricity is polluted will only apply to newly registered purchasing EVs is falling, and we air. The number of premature deaths vehicles. will keep the associated incentives attributable to air pollution in Ireland is under constant review, to ensure estimated at more than 1,500 people We are frontloading investment a greater take-up of EVs, while not per year. Moving to public transport, in EV charging infrastructure to unnecessarily subsidising purchases cycling and EVs, coupled with the provide consumer confidence in the that would happen anyway. phasing out of coal and peat in power availability and reliability of charging generation and the usage of heat points. We will publish an EV strategy We have ensured that all new buses pumps for home heating, will play a to ensure charging infrastructure for PSO services have low emissions. hugely important role in improving air stays ahead of demand and provide This will continue. We will ensure that quality. planning guidance to facilitate all future procurement processes installation. for public buses will include the We will continue to extend the evaluation of procuring fully electric existing smoky coal ban to towns To drive this ambition, Fine Gael has buses, including how smart finance impacted by poor air quality. published draft building regulations can be used to overcome higher which will oblige developers We will shortly publish the first ever upfront costs. to provide ducting to allow for clean air strategy. It will set out: installation of an EV charging point We will publish a public procurement • A plan to improve enforcement, in new homes and apartment framework for EVs . By at least 2025, including the development of a developments with private car we will only allow public sector bodies regional approach to air quality parking spaces. We will ensure that at to purchase low- or no-emissions and noise enforcement, which has least one charging point is provided cars and light goods vehicles. worked very well in tackling waste in non-residential buildings with 10 or more spaces. • A multiagency approach to Improving air quality clamping down on the sale of As an alternative to the current across Ireland high-sulphur content fuel imported grant regime, we will consider a car- One of the major consequences of from the UK, with local authorities scrappage scheme in advance of using fossil fuels to heat our homes, and the Revenue Commissioners our first budget in 2021, to promote power our transport fleet and involved

76 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

• In vestment to improve our The first phase of our new retrofitting a low-carbon economy and meet network of monitoring stations, to model, which will start in the Midlands, our 2030 and 2050 climate targets. provide scientific evidence of air is being partly funded through We will ensure that the enterprise quality across different parts of the increases in the carbon tax in 2020. agencies work with business to adapt country, including real-time and We will continue this approach in to climate change. Only by adapting localised air quality information. future years. We will publish our new now, can our enterprises remain retrofitting plan in 2020. competitive and our society resilient. We will: Carbon Tax Helping citizens, communities Carbon pricing is an essential part and businesses to reduce their • Embed energy efficiency of any meaningful attempt to end greenhouse gas emissions • Replace fossil fuels our reliance on fossil fuels. Any plan We will also use revenues from • Carefully manage materials and without carbon pricing is simply not the carbon tax to enable citizens, waste and abate carbon across all credible. Thanks to the work of the communities and businesses enterprises Joint Oireachtas Committee on to reduce their greenhouse gas Climate Action, there is cross-party emissions. • M obilise clusters regionally and support to increase the price of sectorally, to become centres of carbon to €80 per tonne by 2030. In 2020, we will invest 10% of carbon excellence for the adoption of tax revenue into greenways, cycling low-carbon technologies – the Top We know that this will not be easy and cycling promotion. Over the next Teams model will be central to this for everyone. This is why we are decade, we will continue this and • P lan for the delivery of quality committed to a series of equal and invest €600 million from the carbon employment and enterprise in the incremental increases of €6 per tonne tax into cycling and other forms of new areas of opportunity being per year, which will raise an additional active travel. This is in addition to opened up. €6 billion between now and 2030. significant investment that will be made in cycle lanes through Bus Fine Gael will ring-fence this revenue Reducing waste and to decarbonise the economy and Connects and the capital budget of protect the most vulnerable citizens the Department of Transport. cutting the use of plastics While we have made great strides as a from increases in fuel and energy We will use these revenues to fund costs. nation in terms of recycling, we need the continued expansion of our EV to do more to ensure that the next Investing the carbon tax into charging infrastructure. generation enjoys a clean and healthy climate action We will also use a portion of the environment. We will invest all of the new revenue revenues, as we did in Budget raised from increasing carbon tax We will bring forward a new National 2020, to support innovative green Waste Plan to ensure that we: back into: agricultural projects. • P rotecting the most vulnerable • Recycle 70% of packaging waste Our new Green SMEs Fund by 2030 people We will make Irish SMEs the greenest • F unding a Just Transition for in Europe. Using resources from the • Recycle 55% of plastic packaging workers and communities ring-fenced Carbon Tax Fund, we will waste by 2030 • Helping citizens, communities and create a €10 million Green SMEs Fund • Recycle 65% of municipal waste by businesses to reduce their carbon and provide SMEs up to €2,000 each 2035 footprint. towards professional advice on how • Reduce food waste by 50% by to reduce their energy costs, reduce 2030. Protecting the most vulnerable waste and be more sustainable. people As a priority, we will bring forward We will also provide firms with up 75 measures to tackle waste, which We will protect the most vulnerable to €5,000 of matched funding to people through a mix of increasing can be quickly implemented. These implement measures arising from this include enforcing existing rules, the fuel allowance and delivering greenest SMEs initiative. retrofitting at scale to low-income encouraging audits and waste and social homes, prioritising those An enterprise model for a low reduction targets, higher fees for with the lowest energy ratings, carbon future difficult-to-recycle packaging and through our new retrofitting delivery Enterprise will play a pivotal role in bringing commercial vehicle tyres into model. our ability to fulfil the transition to the successful tyre recycling scheme.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 77 We will work with industry, retailers takeaway and food packaging. water network and will ensure that the and consumers to promote a more The revenue from this will be ring- Project Ireland 2040 commitment of sustainable and responsible culture fenced into the Environment Fund €8.5 billion is delivered. of consumption. Within this context and used for schemes aimed at While our rivers, drinking and bathing and learning from the experience of preventing and reducing waste and waters are generally of good quality, the plastic bag tax, we will implement that protect the environment. we are committed to ensuring that appropriate environmental levies to they are protected against pollution help change consumer behaviour and We will also provide for 90% collection from wastewater treatment systems, to send a clear signal to industry that of plastic drinks containers by 2029 agriculture and other sources. packaging use must be reduced. and ensure all plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030. We introduced a new, multi-annual We will ban specific single-use capital funding programme in plastic convenience items, including Fine Gael has already legislated for January 2016 to improve the quality polystyrene food containers, cups a ban on plastic used in of drinking water in group water and drinks containers, building on the cosmetics, cleansing products and schemes, while protecting water successful ban already introduced in detergents, which have a detrimental quality. Some €95 million has been the public sector. impact on marine fauna and wildlife. allocated between 2018 and 2021, Following the conclusion of a public Providing a lean, reliable and we are committed to maintaining consultation, we will introduce a this level of funding. We will also number of new levies as part of our water network continue to fund upgrades to wells plan to crackdown on plastic and Decades of underinvestment has and domestic wastewater treatment waste. In particular, we will: resulted in a water network which is systems, including septic tanks. not fit for purpose. Working with local • Intr oduce a levy on disposable authorities, Irish Water is improving coffee cups, similar to that water quality, reducing pollution Preparedness for extreme introduced on plastic bags, to incidents, driving down leakage rates weather events discourage their use and encourage and planning for the long-term needs A major part of our response to people to use ‘keep cups’ of our expanding population and climate change must be to better • Increase the landfill levy by €5/ growing economy. prepare ourselves for extreme tonne weather events. Project Ireland 2040 We will retain Irish Water in public provides for almost €1 billion to be • Intr oduce a €5/tonne Waste ownership as a national, standalone spent on capital works programmes Recovery Levy water utility. to minimise the impacts of river and • Increase the plastic bag levy to 25c Fine Gael is committed to funding the coastal flooding on society, through • Introduce further levies on necessary upgrades of the country’s the implementation of the 29 Flood ‘medium weight plastic bag’, Risk Management Plans.

78 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Protecting our Ocean Wealth

As an island nation, with almost half of all Next, we will bring forward Ireland’s energy potential of offshore wind, in Irish people living within five kilometres first ever National Marine Planning particular. This is essential for achieving of the coastline, we have a strong Framework. This will introduce a planning 70% renewable generation by 2030. maritime tradition and affinity with the system for the development of Ireland’s sea. Fine Gael has prioritised the marine maritime area in the same way that Ireland’s first maritime and introduced the first ever blueprint the National Planning Framework fulfils national park for the development of the marine this function on land. It will be the key We will investigate the practicalities sector, Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth. decision-making tool for regulatory and merits of establishing an offshore authorities and policy-makers. Individual maritime area as Ireland’s seventh A new ocean wealth consent applications will have to have national park. This would form part of strategy regard to the provisions of the plan. the expanded Marine Protected Areas Within the first year of being returning to and allow for a greater engagement and office, we will develop and publish a new, Enacting the Marine learning experience among Irish people follow-up strategy to Harnessing Our Planning and Development for their maritime environment. Ocean Wealth, building even further on Management Bill the ‘ growth’ delivered to date. As part of this reform agenda for A sustainable future for the our marine planning regime, we will fisheries sector Ireland’s first marine spatial ensure that the Marine Planning and We are committed to the sustainable plan and framework Development Management Bill is development of the fisheries sector, Fine Gael has published Ireland’s first passed into law as soon as possible. This ensuring that stocks are protected so the draft marine spatial planning policy, which will introduce a single-state consent next generation have the opportunity to is currently out for public consultation system for the maritime area for certain continue the family tradition of deriving an and will be finalised by the end of project types, as well as eliminating the income from the sea. the year. This sets out a clear vision unnecessary duplication of development A good Common Fisheries Policy deal for the future development of our management processes (including We negotiated a doubling of support for marine planning system, as well as the environmental assessments) for the fisheries sector under the European overarching policies and principles the activities or developments that are Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Government expects marine planning currently assessed under both the under the Common Fisheries Policy bodies and other bodies that engage foreshore and planning regimes. (CFP), which provides an investment with the marine planning system of €240 million. We are fully committed to observe (e.g., in terms of public Exploiting our offshore to drawing down all this funding and engagement, transparency, governance, renewable potential maintaining a well-resourced EMFF environmental assessment, climate This suite of marine planning reforms to support the fisheries sector in the action, social and economic benefits). will allow us to fully exploit the renewable context of the next CFP.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 79 In the context of future CFP negotiations, Investment in harbour infrastructure Investment in coastline the Hague Preferences will continue to Delivering on Project Ireland 2040 communities be of fundamental importance to Ireland, commitments, we will invest strategically We will continue to invest in coastline guaranteeing Irish fishermen a better in harbour infrastructure and continue the communities through the Fisheries share of stocks when levels diminish. roll-out of Brexit supports for our seafood Local Area Group (FLAG) programme, processing sector. This will provide We are committed to the environmental providing support for innovative projects the industry with the best possible objectives of the CFP, which has to boost economic growth and job competitive advantage in the coming introduced measures aimed at sustaining creation. years. fish stocks, through the ending of discards, quotas based on science and Supporting investment in the internationally recognised concept of Clean oceans our ports Maximum Sustainable Yield. Over 365 tonnes of marine plastic waste As an island nation, Ireland is heavily and over 9 tonnes of used fishing nets Enabling future growth dependent on its ports and our future have been collected for recycling under economic success depends on our We will ensure that the seafood sector is our Clean Oceans Initiative. With the help a key focus of the successor strategy to ability to trade. We will work with our port of fishermen, we will expand this initiative, companies to ensure that they have the Foodwise 2025, providing a blueprint for working with other small island nations to further growth and development of this capacity, finance and policy support to combat marine pollution in our collective develop in the years ahead. sector. In this context, we will continue to waters. develop the seafood processing sector, providing the necessary infrastructure Marine Tourism Developing our inshore Our coastal areas, marine resources to encourage increased landings, to fisheries further support job creation in coastal and activities are key parts of our overall We are committed to further developing communities. tourism offering. We will continue to the inshore fisheries sector, working sustainably develop the sector by building The challenge of Brexit within the National Inshore Fisheries on existing partnerships to optimise our We recognise the challenge that Brexit Forum (NIFF) structure. We will assets for the benefit of tourism and poses to our seafood sector with regard implement the ban on large trawlers broader economic development. to access to fishing grounds, the threat inside Ireland’s six-mile limit and other to existing quota share and the potential conservation measures aimed at We will build on our ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ consequences of the displacement sustaining the inshore fisheries sector. tourism experience brand to entice even of EU vessels into the Irish EEZ. We more visitors to coastal communities, as will work with like-minded EU Member Aquaculture sector well as working to replicate this success on the southern and eastern seaboards. States to ensure that the implications for We are committed to the future fisheries are fully considered throughout development of the aquaculture sector. negotiations for a future EU-UK Having cleared the backlog of shellfish Seafest relationship. More specifically, we will licences, we will resolve outstanding We will continue to promote Seafest as ensure that fisheries remain an integral issues around finfish licensing, with a significant marine and tourism event part of trade negotiations in the context a sustainable and environmentally in the national calendar, celebrating all of Brexit. conscious approach. things maritime.

80 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Security and justice in modern Ireland

A strong, well-trained, professional The significant progress achieved in office, we will continue to support the and visible police force is at the core the recruitment of Garda staff over Garda Commissioner to deliver upon of community safety. Michael Collins the last two years, in particular, has his mandate and we will ensure that founded our national police service, allowed over 600 Gardaí to be moved the Gardaí have the resources they named the Civic Guards, in 1922, and to frontline duties. need to carry out their essential work. the force became An Garda Síochána Fine Gael believes that Garda Reserve We will bring forward the necessary the following year. A century on, Fine personnel play an important role in legislation and provide the Gael in Government is delivering a the community and can make an resources needed to implement the programme of reform to ensure that important contribution to the work of recommendations of the Commission Ireland has among the best police An Garda Síochána. We will support on the Future of Policing in Ireland, services in the world, well equipped to the Garda Commissioner, who is equipping An Garda Síochána to be meet modern policing challenges. currently undertaking a strategic as effective as possible in keeping The disastrous Fianna Fáil/Green review of the Garda Reserve. communities safe. These measures Party Government closed the include: Garda Training College in 2010. The A modern, fit-for- • Intr oducing a new Policing and inevitable consequence was a fall in purpose, policing service Community Safety Bill to redefine Garda numbers across the country in In Government, we established a the functions of An Garda Síochána, the years that followed. team of national and international which will include community safety As part of our reform agenda, we have experts to produce a new blueprint for and the prevention of harm to reversed this and Garda numbers are policing in Ireland. The Commission vulnerable people now at their highest level in a decade. on the Future of Policing in Ireland set • Intr oducing statutory codification We are steadily building towards a out an ambitious five-year programme of the Garda powers for search, record high of 15,000 sworn Gardaí in to transform An Garda Síochána into a arrest and detention, to ensure a 2021, within an overall organisational modern police service. We responded more coherent and transparent strength of 21,000. Budget 2020 by adopting an implementation plan, framework within which the Gardaí provides for up to 700 new Garda which identifies the prevention of can enforce the law recruits. We will fund the recruitment harm as an explicit core principle of • Intr oducing new legislation to allow of up to 700 Gardaí annually over the policing in Ireland and which places Gardaí to wear body-worn cameras next five years . community policing at the heart of the to provide evidence capture organisation. However, recruiting more Gardaí is and clear records of events and not enough. We must also free up In Government, we appointed a new interactions Gardaí from administrative, technical Garda Commissioner to deliver this • Ex tending the powers governing and other non-core duties, to allow new blueprint for An Garda Síochána Garda use of CCTV and Automated them to focus on policing matters. by the end of 2022. If returned to Number Plate Recognition

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 81 devices. to ensure more effective relevant EU measures and the UN come from a wide variety of sources investigation and evidence- Protocol against the smuggling of and in multiple ways. We have gathering. migrants. established the Strategic Threat • We will annually renew the Analysis Centre, to better coordinate Fighting organised crime provisions of the Offences Against intelligence collation and analysis, in and terrorism the State Act 1998 & the Criminal line with the recommendations of We will continue to support the Garda Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 the Commission on the Future of National Drugs and Organised Crime and robustly defend the central Policing in Ireland. We will ensure that Bureau, which since 2015 has seized importance of the Special Criminal it is appropriately resourced in the drugs with an estimated street Court in dealing with gangland years ahead. value of €168 million, cash worth criminals and terrorists. €10 million, 109 firearms and 3,400 Ensuring rural rounds of ammunition. It has also Fit-for-purpose data communities are safe made over 780 arrests. retention powers Increased Garda numbers are having a significant impact on crime Expanding the Criminal Assets We will work at EU level to ensure that prevention and investigations in every Bureau (CAB) the data retention powers available to part of the country. We have ensured that serious and Member States help to bring criminals organised criminals operating at to justice and we will continue to Special operations have relentlessly every level in any part of the country update our data retention laws, so targeted those who seek to prey on can be targeted. We have expanded that Gardaí are fully enabled to bring people living in isolated areas and CAB’s Divisional Assets Profiler Plan criminals to justice. strong community partnerships have and there are now asset profilers Cross-border crime helped prevent crimes from taking active in every Garda division. We While Ireland is not immune to the place. Operation Thor, launched in will continue to expand the pool of threat of international terrorism, November 2015, has resulted in over CAB asset profilers, to ensure that the greatest threat to our country 200,900 targeted checkpoints and the bureau can target criminals who comes from so-called dissident more than 356,300 crime prevention seek to benefit from the proceeds of Republican terrorists. We will patrols nationwide. crime. continue to take a hard line in facing Fine Gael will continue to support Enabling specialisation to target down this threat. In Government, we An Garda Síochána in tackling the gangland criminals established the cross-border Joint gangs and individuals responsible for Unprecedented Garda budgets have Agency Taskforce, bringing together burglary and burglary-related crime. allowed increased specialisation. An Garda Síochána, the PSNI, the Approximately 200,000 text Organised criminals are now targeted Revenue Commissioners and HM messages are sent under the Garda by Response Unit, Revenue and Customs to fight Text Alert Scheme each month. We regional Armed Support Units, the cross-border crime and clamp down will facilitate and promote further Garda National Drugs and Organised on criminals who exploit the border. partnerships between An Garda Crime Bureau, the National Bureau of Now that the Executive in Stormont Síochána and communities, as well Criminal Investigation, alongside the has been re-established, we will work as ensuring that the Garda Text Alert CAB. with the Executive and the British Scheme is appropriately supported. Strengthening legislation Government to strengthen and Community CCTV We will continue to legislate to deepen multi-agency cross-border We are strongly supportive of combat serious and organised cooperation on crime. community partnerships to promote criminals, inlcuding: There are now Armed Support Units community safety and have provided • C odifying the use of Passenger in every Garda region, including at funding of up to €1 million per Name Recognition data for the border in Cavan, Ballyshannon annum to support community CCTV the prevention, detection, and Dundalk. These units play an schemes. We recognise that the investigation and prosecution important role in supporting frontline process of applying for community of terrorist offences and serious Gardaí to combat terrorism and CCTV can be cumbersome and crime organised crime in the border region. complex. Therefore, if returned • Tackling human trafficking, Better coordination of intelligence to Government, we will review the ensuring that our laws encompass Today’s threats to citizens and states legal and organisational framework

82 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

governing community CCTV. network, which will help to identify procedures that support a less The purpose of the review will be perpetrators adversarial resolution of disputes. to ensure (i) that the process of • B y introducing ever-increasing applying for government funding is numbers of Gardaí with a strong Legal reforms as straightforward as possible and focus on community policing. Major and far-reaching reforms of (ii) that community CCTV can be the judiciary are underway. as effective as possible in deterring Furthermore, to address antisocial crime and providing evidence to An behaviour and youth crime, we will: We recently established Ireland’s Garda Síochána, where required. • C riminalise adults who groom first ever Judicial Council providing, for the first time, a statutory basis Investing in Garda vehicles children to commit crimes, in line with the recommendations of the for the appropriate training for We will continue to invest in the judges and for the investigation of Garda fleet over the next five years, former Special Rapporteur on Child Protection complaints against judges. The new providing the mobile force needed Judicial Council will adopt guidelines to combat crime. €9 million has been • Ex tend the Youth Joint Agency around sentencing and awarding provided to upgrade the Garda fleet Response to Crime, launched of damages in personal injuries in 2020. in 2017, which targets prolific claims. It will be independent in the offenders aged 16-21 and has been performance of its functions. Reducing repeat offending proven to be successful in reducing Recognising that 25% of recidivists recidivism We will build upon this, by reforming are responsible for 75% of crime, • Hold a special expert forum on the way in which judges are we will continue to work to reduce appointed, by the passage of the repeat offending by extending the antisocial behaviour, to consider the effectiveness of existing legislation Judicial Appointments Commission successful Joint Agency Response to Bill. Crime, which we established in 2016 • E stablish a special Joint Oireachtas to combat repeat offending to more Committee to consider the A century after the establishment locations around the State. recommendations of the Special of our courts, we will consult Rapporteur on Child Protection with stakeholders to develop a Tackling antisocial behaviour and regarding the age of criminal comprehensive long-term strategy youth crime responsibility. for a modern courts system. Antisocial behaviour encompasses a wide range of activities that can cause We will legislate to introduce a harm to an individual, a community or Restorative Justice statutory offence of perjury, to make the environment. Fine Gael will continue to work with this crime easier to prosecute. all criminal justice agencies to build We will modernise the law on the We will build on the laws currently in capacity to deliver restorative justice, administration of oaths in judicial place and work with An Garda Síochana safely and effectively, to all those who and other proceedings, in line with to increase its capacity to tackle might benefit from participation. antisocial behaviour. As part of the the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission. implementation of the Commission on Garda Vetting the Future of Policing in Ireland, we will We will reform the Garda vetting We will clarify and strengthen develop a new Youth Justice strategy, process to ensure the process is contempt of court sanctions for drawing on learnings from the Icelandic streamlined and more efficient. violations on social media. model and emphasising prevention, early intervention and interagency Dealing with gambling collaboration. We will do this with: Reforming family law Family law is an especially sensitive addiction • A new Policing and Community area, which requires special facilities We will increase awareness of Safety Bill and structures. Under Project Ireland the range of interventions for the • Ne w legislation to allow Gardaí to 2040, we have earmarked €80 million treatment of gambling, providing wear body-worn cameras, enabling in capital funding for the construction access to assessment and individual them to capture evidence of of a new Family Law Court. counselling services. antisocial behaviour and retain clear We will introduce a Family Court Gambling has never been more records of events and interactions Bill to create a new dedicated accessible. While it is an activity that • Increased community CCTV, Family Court within existing court is enjoyed by the vast majority of combined with the State’s CCTV structures and provide for Court participants, we are deeply concerned

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 83 about problem gambling. We will into their sentence. Furthermore, National Economic Crime Bureau introduce an independent gambling victims’ rights are extended by the continues to vigorously pursue white- regulator, to ensure that abuses are Bill and they will have the right to oral collar criminals. eradicated, and that public safety submissions. Victims will also be Establish the Office of the Director is protected. We will emulate best entitled to legal representation. of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) practice in the design of the new as a standalone statutory body regulatory body and ensure that it Victims’ Rights As a matter of priority, we will is equipped to respond to a rapidly We will shortly publish a revised establish the Office of the Director of evolving gambling environment. Victims’ Charter. The new charter Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) as a We will review the controls that will contain a new chapter addressing standalone statutory body and give it exist in relation to access to, and the supports for Irish victims of crime the flexibility and resources to do its behaviour of, gambling apps and abroad and for their families. job to the highest possible standard. websites; and, if the existing controls Review of our anti-corruption and are not sufficient to prevent underage Safer roads through anti-fraud structures or vulnerable people from gambling, enforcement Fine Gael in Government has already we will mandate the regulator to put Great strides have been made over established a review of Ireland’s anti- strict controls in place. the past two decades in reducing corruption and anti-fraud structures road fatalities and tackling drink- and and procedures in criminal law Increasing prison capacity drug-driving. Fine Gael will introduce enforcement. Recommendations are There has been a major capital a new road safety strategy focused due to be provided shortly, and Fine investment in prisons in recent years, on reducing road deaths to less than Gael will act on them as a matter of to ensure that these facilities are fit 100 per year, by 2025. As part of this, urgency. for purpose. In 2016, the early 19th- we will place a particular emphasis century prison in Cork was closed and on reducing the deaths and injuries Stopping white-collar crime trials replaced with a new, modern facility. of the most vulnerable road users: getting delayed All wings of Mountjoy Prison have pedestrians and cyclists. As part of our wider court reform been refurbished. Major works are in measures, we will legislate to provide Our focus will be on improving the for preliminary trial hearings to train in the State’s only high-security enforcement of existing laws, rather prison in Portlaoise, and in Limerick, expedite the administration of justice than creating new ones, and on the in white-collar crime cases, which can where a new wing is planned as part promotion of driver awareness and of the Irish Prison Service’s Capital often become unnecessarily delayed education. We will consolidate the by technical detail. Strategy 2016-2021. existing road traffic legislation and Fine Gael will ensure that planned close any loopholes that may have Tackling attempts to launder capital projects are delivered and that developed. money a comprehensive approach is taken We will continue the fight against to the development of the next Irish Tackling white-collar money laundering and transpose Prison Service’s Capital Strategy the Fifth EU Anti-Money Laundering crime Directive into Irish law. taking account of an increasing Corruption and white-collar crime population and greater enforcement damage our economy, breed cynicism Reforming our whistle-blower due to our investment in Gardai. in our society and are a threat to our legislation We will review the provisions of the international reputation. That is why Strong whistle-blower legislation is Prisons Act 2007 which govern the Fine Gael has prioritised allocating crucial to exposing malpractices in Office of the Inspector of Prisons resources as well as legislative reform the public and private sectors and to ensure that the Inspector has to tackle white-collar crime. We will enabling the fight against corruption. the necessary statutory powers to continue this work over the next five Fine Gael in Government helped undertake their duties effectively and years. to bring in the current whistle- blower legislation, which is widely we will expand their role into dealing The Corruption Offences Act 2018 with individual complaints considered among the best regimes encompasses the public and private internationally. The EU is now sectors and introduced a range of new considering reforms to European A Statutory Parole Board measures to tackle corruption. On wide whistleblowing provisions, We will establish the new statutory foot of this, the Garda Síochána has and we will use this opportunity to Parole Board. Under the Parole Act introduced a new Garda Confidential update and reform our legislation, to 2019, prisoners will not be eligible for Line to enable confidential reporting of ensure that it remains as effective as their first parole hearing until 12 years bribery and corruption and the Garda possible.

84 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Thomas Walsh Candidate for Sligo Leitrim

Mary Mitchell O’Connor Candidate for Dún Laoghaire

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 85 A Strong Defence Force

The men and women of Óglaigh na recommendations in full. These Strategic Review hÉireann serve our country with pride changes will give members of the Commission and distinction, underpinning the more take-home Taking account of this changed geo- security of our State, our , pay by increasing the military service political environment and to build on our sovereignty, and participating in allowance for all personnel, restoring the work of the Public Service Pay peacekeeping missions for the United premium payments for weekends Commission, Fine Gael will establish Nations (UN) and the EU. They also and increasing both security and an independent Commission to carry provide essential aid to the civil power, patrol duty allowances. Those with out a Strategic Review of Defence and aid to civil authority, especially in sought after skills will be incentivised to ensure that our Defence Forces times of emergency, such as Storm to stay in service and the first group to continue to serve the interests of our Ophelia and Storm Emma, helping to benefit from this have been Air Corps people into the future. protect our citizens. pilots. These steps will make a career in the Army, the Air Corps and the This Commission should examine Maintaining the Defence Naval Service a more attractive and arrangements for effective defence sustainable option. of the country, improving structures Forces’ strength for governance, oversight and We are committed to maintaining the We have set a high-level accountability of the Defence Defence Forces’ strength at 9,500 implementation plan in train, which Forces, the appropriate composition across Army, Air Corps and Naval clearly outlines how the PSPC report of the Defence Forces, including Service personnel, as set out in the will be implemented. As part of this, consideration of recruitment, career White Paper on Defence,(2015). We the non-pay issues highlighted by progression and pay structures so will restore the operational capacity the PSPC, and other important that we can further incentivise the of the Defence Forces through a issues such as retirement ages and loyalty and commitment of those who planned programme of investment incentivised longer service schemes serve Ireland with distinction. in equipment replacement and for certain non-commissioned officer infrastructural developments across (NCO) and officer ranks, will be dealt The outcome of this review will the services. with. remain grounded in a policy of active military neutrality and participative We accept that more needs to be multilateralism through the United Ensuring that a career done. in the Defence Forces is Nations and European Union. The recent White Paper Update Fine Gael will ensure that attractive and sustainable identified that the wider political Fine Gael recognises the challenges Defence Forces personnel are global environment is now more faced by the Defence Forces in fully represented in future pay complex and uncertain and events relation to retention. We asked the talks, by permitting the affiliation internationally can impact on our Public Service Pay Commission of Permanent Defence Forces political, social, economic and (PSPC) to consider these issues Representative Associations with environmental well-being, in ever in detail and have accepted its the Irish Congress of Trade Unions more complex ways and patterns.

86 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

(ICTU), subject to confirmation that Act and bringing the Defence Forces Recognising the such a move will not alter military within the scope of its provisions. We contribution of retired command structures and that the will ensure that the Working Time members of the Defence Defence Forces will continue to be Directive applies to members of the available to provide the same services Permanent Defence Forces in a fair Forces We will continue to support the to the public, both at home and when way, that takes into account the types establishment of centres for retired deployed overseas. of duties and tasks undertaken by members of the Defence Forces, them. providing an important resource to A revised Conciliation and our veterans and assisting them in Arbitration (C&A) scheme Committed to the United accessing services, while at the same Following an independent review Nations (UN) time providing a social outlet and of the Permanent Defence Forces. The patriotism and professionalism network for retired members. Fine Gael will immediately proceed displayed by members of the to implement a new Conciliation and Defence Forces, both at home and This will provide a public recognition of Arbitration (C&A) Scheme. overseas, is a source of great pride the unique role played by members of to the Irish people, and a real display the Defence Forces. Better access to of international leadership. Since As we approach significant healthcare 1958, Ireland has had a continuous anniversaries for the veteran Access to healthcare is a vital part presence on UN peace operations, associations, we will mark these of ensuring that members of our with personnel serving in peace occasions in appreciation of the Defence Forces personnel are ready missions all over the world, including support and contribution of each and able to serve when called upon. in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia association to its members, the wider For this reason, we have passed and South America. defence community and to the State, legislation to exempt the healthcare We will continue to ensure that through involvement in ceremonial provided to members of the Defence the Defence Forces have the occasions. Forces from benefit-in-kind taxation. appropriate resources to maintain Primary care is well developed in the this commitment in the years ahead. Upgrading and improving Defence Forces, but we will improve Utilising this experience and Ireland’s the Defence Forces’ the facilities currently available by position of military neutrality, we will facilities building a state-of-the-art primary actively engage in the international In line with Project Ireland 2040, care centre to replace the current stage and continue to espouse the we have published a five year Built medical facility at St Bricin’s Military importance of multilateralism in Infrastructure Plan Programme, Hospital, in Dublin. Fine Gael will support of international peace and investing €145m, in a variety of ensure that all enlisted members of security. critical projects key to improving the Permanent Defence Forces have the physical working conditions and the same access to healthcare as A new Institute for Peace live-in accommodation for members. officers do currently. Support and Leadership These projects range from single Training living accommodation, to training and Amending the As part of this, and in line with Project messing facilities up to ammunition Organisation of Working Ireland 2040, we will also develop a depots, aircraft hangers and berthage Time Act new Institute for Peace Support and facilities. The Programme ensures Fine Gael is committed to amending Leadership Training in the Curragh. that investment is targeted where it is the Organisation of Working Time needed most.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 87 Reserve Defence generously of their time and talents The role of the Defence Forces (RDF) to serve their communities. We Forces in the broader The RDF is a significant element of have established a coordinated public service the State’s defence capability. Fine inter-agency guidance team, The skills and capabilities of the Gael will continue to develop the RDF bringing together Principal Response Army, Air Corps and Naval Service so that it can support the work of the Agencies involved in dealing with will continue to be made available to Permanent Defence Forces, we will major emergency management An Garda Síochána, to assist in the review recruitment to the RDF with issues and committed an extra €1 internal security of the State, and a view to increasing participation million towards upgrading the Civil to lead government agencies in the towards full strength of 4,000 Defence fleet in 2020. We will build event of national emergencies, cyber personnel. Fine Gael has increased on this work by increasing supports emergencies and the maintenance of the supports for the Reserve Defence for Civil Defence Officers, develop a essential services. Force Association and will continue to policy that sets out a shared vision do so. for the organisation incorporating the input of volunteers and update Supporting the We have conducted a skills survey in legislation governing Civil Defence to Emergency Aeromedical the RDF and will use this to develop a reflect this vision. Support (EAS) service Specialist Reserve that can support We will continue to support the the work of the Permanent Defence Emergency Aeromedical Support Force at home and overseas. Commemorating the past As we come to the centenaries of the service operating out of Custume founding of the State and of Óglaigh Barracks, Athlone. Civil Defence na hÉireann, we will commission Fine Gael is committed to supporting medals for serving personnel to and developing Civil Defence and commemorate these important the 3,500 volunteers who give events in our nation’s history.

Emer Higgins Candidate for Dublin Mid West

Brendan Griffin Candidate for Kerry

88 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

A sporting and active nation Sport helps to bring communities Fund (LSSIF) for larger sports facility high-performance programmes. This together in a way that is both projects. The first round of the LSSIF additional funding will be associated remarkable and inspiring. It can was very popular with €77m of with the goal of securing at least 10 engender enormous national and local the €100m fund allocated, though medals at the 2028 Olympics and at pride, when our teams and athletes many good projects have not yet least 12 at the Paralympics. do well. Most importantly, playing a been funded. We will make sure that sport keeps our bodies and our minds there is another round of funding International sporting healthy. allocated early in the life of the next events Government. The decision to host the Ryder Cup Double spending on sport in Adare Manor in 2026, as well as We will double Government spending Lifelong sporting activity the role that Dublin will play in Euro on sport by 2027 and we will use this The health benefits of lifelong 2020, speaks to the capacity Ireland investment to achieve the high-level sporting activity are well known. Some has to be involved in some of the targets in the National Sports Policy sporting activities are especially biggest sporting events in the world. 2018-2027, particularly the elimination suitable for participation across a If returned to office, we will develop a of the gender gap in sporting person’s lifespan, such as swimming, strategy to identify, on a systematic participation and the increase of active cycling, walking and running. A strong basis, what type of sporting events sporting participation among the adult emphasis needs to be placed on these we can and should bid for, and how population, from the current level of activities from an early age, particularly these events can be used to increase 43%, to 50%. through PE, so that people have the sporting participation, encourage foundational skills to continue with domestic and international tourism Providing funding for them throughout their lives. For these and promote Ireland. We are also open sports capital grants four sports, in particular, schemes to to a bid for a future Rugby World Cup. We know the importance of sports help older people participate will be capital grants in the development of developed and enabled by central and Importance of Physical clubs across the country. Fine Gael local government such as park runs. Education (PE) has ensured that the Sports Capital The greatest fall-off in sporting Programme was re-established once Encouraging sporting participation occurs in secondary it came to office in 2011. Since then participation by all in school. Our education system needs €293 million in Sports Capital Funding society to be at the centre of our efforts has supported 6,134 sports clubs and For a wide variety of factors, the take- to improve participation in sport. In organisations nationwide. up and participation in sport is lower for line with Project Ireland 2040, we will Over the next five years, we will ensure those who have a disability. Increasing deliver a PE build and modernisation that there are regular rounds of the participation levels among people with programme, so that students in Sports Capital Programme for clubs disabilities is especially important. We more post-primary schools have and local authority sportsgrounds will mandate Sports Ireland to develop access to indoor facilities for PE. across the country at a local and a programme of interventions to This complements the decision by regional level. boost participation levels. Fine Gael in Government to make PE an examinable subject at Leaving The Sports Capital Programme Olympic and high- Certificate level. Enhanced and co-funds local and regional sporting modernised PE facilities will also infrastructure and equipment. performance funding As we double overall sports funding provide extra amenities for local However, we also established the communities. Large Scale Sport Infrastructure by 2027, we will triple funding for our

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 89 Enhancing our culture and heritage

Irish culture, music, language and 2040 provides €40 million over the with invaluable opportunities to art constitute the window through next decade for the continuation participate in and experience the arts which most of the world sees us for of the highly successful nationwide for themselves. We will continue to the first time. These elements are Arts and Culture Capital Scheme develop innovative support schemes central to our image and reputation. introduced by Fine Gael. for small local festivals, amateur Culture and creativity enrich our dramatics and musicals. We will develop initiatives so that lives, are a substantial part of our the National Cultural Institutions go economy, employing people all over on tour to towns across the country Creative Ireland as Ireland, and are drivers of tourism. and enable greater national touring the legacy to the 2016 In 2017, Leo Varadkar committed programmes by artists. Included in Centenary Programme to the doubling of expenditure on this will be the National Symphony Creative Ireland is the legacy arts, culture, heritage and the Irish Orchestra which, funded by the programme arising from the language by 2025. The Fine Gael-led Department of Culture, Heritage and hugely successful 2016 Centenary Government has also committed the Gaeltacht, and residing in the Programme. We will ensure that this to this goal. We have already made renovated National Concert Hall, will ambitious five-year strategy, which meaningful progress, with an be fully staffed and will offer a national places culture and creativity at the increase from €284 million to €351 touring programme and educational heart of public policy is implemented million, or 24%, to date, and we will and outreach programmes. in full. The ground-breaking deliver on our commitment by 2025. initiatives, including Creative Schools Project Ireland 2040 already commits Supporting Galway 2020 and Creative Communities, will be over €1.2 billion to culture and In the year that the world’s eyes will supported to expand and reach their heritage. This is the first ever multi- be on Galway 2020, we will provide full potential. annual long-term capital funding plan substantial support to this landmark for Irish cultural institutions. project and ensure a legacy that will Creative Children sustain the city and county’s cultural Initiative Enabling all parts of reputation. Through the continued expansion Ireland to fully partake in of the Creative Children Initiative, The importance of local we will ensure that every child in our national cultural life Ireland has access to tuition and Geography should not limit people’s arts and drama festivals participation in art, music, drama and ability to fully partake in Ireland’s Local arts and drama festivals afford coding by 2022. national cultural life. Project Ireland artists and audiences around Ireland

90 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Jospeha Madigan Candidate for Dublin Rathdown

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 91 Encouraging the next A thriving audiovisual country, including new projects in generation of artists and sector Ireland’s peatlands and new cycling, musicians There is a thriving audiovisual walking and recreational amenities through the creation of new We will create new bursary schemes sector in Ireland, which Fine Gael greenways and blueways along our for young artists from all disciplines, will continue to support. We will inland waterways. as a means of encouraging the implement the Audiovisual Action Plan next generation of Irish artists and in full. Building on the success of the As part of the Just Transition for musicians. Regional Film Development Uplift, the Midlands, we will create a new which is driving increased investment National Peatlands Centre, to Sustaining creative in Ireland’s regions, we will ensure that showcase Ireland’s peatlands and spaces our tax regime remains as supportive their history. and as attractive as possible. We will We will also help to sustain spaces also drive the development of new We will investigate the practicalities for artists and creatives in our cities, studio space and the upskilling of and merits of establishing an through creating a new fund which audiovisual workers. offshore maritime area as a national local authorities can access for joint- park. This would form part of the funding to create new spaces and expanded Marine Protected Areas studios. Night mayors to promote and allow for a greater engagement night-time culture and learning experience among Increasing funding to the Fine Gael wants to see the Irish people for their maritime Arts Council establishment of local committees environment. and ‘night mayors’ to advance and We will continue to fund the Arts improve our night-time entertainment, Council, supporting its ‘arm’s-length’ Community-led heritage creative and cultural offerings. To this independence. We will also build on successful end, we are commencing two pilots, community-led programmes, such as one in Dublin and one in Cork. As part the Built Heritage Investment Scheme Greater awareness of the of this, consideration will be given to and the Structures at Risk Fund, Percent for Arts Scheme public transport, public safety, licensing which provide grant aid to protect and The Percent for Arts Scheme is regulations and venue availability, maintain important historic buildings in a voluntary initiative, whereby but any changes will be balanced our local communities. In addition, we Government Departments and with the needs and concerns of local will work to progress flagship national public bodies can invest up to communities. one percent of the total budget projects, such as the restoration of the Ulster Canal. for capital investment projects in A new all-of-government public art. In 2019 we increased the scheme’s bands and limits, heritage policy Heritage Council and We will publish and implement a new ensuring that significant funding is school visits all-of-government heritage policy. being made available to the creative We will increase funding to the This will complement the significant community, and that investment Heritage Council, to expand its investment in our national heritage in public art projects is closer to Heritage in School Scheme, which over the next decade, which Fine Gael the one percent. We will promote enables greater awareness of has prioritised in Project Ireland 2040. greater awareness of the scheme. Ireland’s rich natural and cultural We will continue to develop and heritage with visits from one of our Recognition of women’s implement a masterplan for the Heritage in School experts. contribution to Ireland development of our National Parks and National Reserves, following on History and Heritage through art from the work already underway at We will continue to support the school trip supports Coole Park in Galway and Glenveagh recognition of the hugely significant The decision to give history a special in Donegal, and the introduction of contribution of women to Ireland’s core status in the Junior Cycle year-round opening at Connemara development through innovative recognises the unique importance National Park. cultural schemes like the Markievicz we place on an understanding of Awards, which supports new works of In recognition of their community history. That alone is not enough. art celebrating the role of women in and development value, we will also We will establish a fund of €500,000 our history. continue to support new community per year to support DEIS primary and heritage projects throughout the secondary schools initially, with the

92 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

intention of establishing a scheme we will achieve further UNESCO additional library services 365 days for all schools, to travel to and visit designations for Irish sites, including a year. This is only the start. We will historic sites on the island of Ireland. the Lough Allen region. work with our network of libraries in evolving and innovating to meet the The importance of our Implementation of the needs of our ever-changing society. biodiversity ‘biodiversity duty’ Our biodiversity and nature are as The Dáil has declared a biodiversity The importance of Irish important as our climate and are emergency. Fine Gael will introduce media crucial to our health and our ability a series of measures in the next We need a strong and vibrant media to sustain life. They also link in with government term to address this sector in Ireland to produce accessible other important sectors, including emergency. content that informs, challenges, tourism, agriculture and recreation. educates and entertains. However, We will ensure full implementation of the structures and approach by the Under Project Ireland 2040, we are the ‘biodiversity duty’ on public bodies State to the Irish media are rooted investing €60 million in the greater to have regard to policies, guidelines, very much in the mid-20th century. protection of our nature and and objectives to promote the Recognising this, we are establishing biodiversity. Central to this will be conservation of biodiversity and the a Commission on the Future of Irish the continued implementation of National Biodiversity Action Plan. Public Service Broadcasting, which will the third National Biodiversity Action bring forward proposals by September Plan 2017-2021 and building on Appointing an Education 2020. The commission will review the commitments made at the first Liaisons Officers in our the current approach and make National Biodiversity Conference, National Parks recommendations on setting a new which took place in 2019. We will appoint Education Liaison strategic direction for public service Officers in each of our National broadcasting provided at national, Restoration of our bogs Parks to work with schools across regional and local level, in light of A major restoration effort has been the country, in order to promote the international experience and future underway on our raised bogs since importance of biodiversity and the trends. 2011. We will continue to invest in natural world, and to involve pupils in It is essential that our defamation laws peatlands restoration, rewetting the work that goes on in our National are fair and proportionate. We will and restoring native peatlands. This Parks. will include funding to community conclude the review of the Defamation groups to develop projects that We will seek to promote biodiversity Act 2009 quickly and will bring forward promote our peatlands. For further initiatives across primary, post- legislation on foot of that review. primary and third-level sectors and details, please see the ‘Protecting We will enact the Broadcasting Bill seek to ensure that schools, colleges our environment’ chapter. by the summer. It will, in particular, and universities across the country enable the broadcasting levy to be play an active role in providing areas to reduced for all broadcasters and for Local biodiversity promote biodiversity. projects some community broadcasters to be Local biodiversity projects to combat exempted entirely. It allows for the invasive species, plant native trees Working with our libraries creation of a new funding scheme that and protect our native pollinator to continue evolving, would allow the granting of bursaries species have proved to be highly innovating and serving to journalists in local or community successful in restoring nature and in communities radio stations. We must support our raising awareness of biodiversity. We In 2019, we launched the new public local community radio stations and will increase funding for local nature libraries strategy Our Public Libraries independent broadcasters. We fully groups and local authorities to work 2022: Inspiring, Connecting and value the role of local and community in partnership on these projects. Empowering Communities. Since radio, as is evidenced in the terms of 2016, we have invested over €11 reference for the new Commission We will continue to raise awareness million in library buildings and over on the Future of Public Service of biodiversity through initiatives, €10 million on ICT upgrades and Broadcasting. including an Annual Biodiversity innovative initiatives. We are also Awards Scheme. extending the My Open Library Building on the success of the service, which allows branches to UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere, open from 8am to 10pm, as well as

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 93 Growing the use and enjoyment of the Irish language

The Irish language has a bright future We recognise the need to provide the Gaeltacht. We want to promote and Fine Gael will help to realise it. We public services through Irish to Irish the language in social settings and are committed to doubling funding for speakers, in particular for the 26 in workplaces, such as through Irish the Irish language by 2025 compared Gaeltacht planning areas, but also the language tables in workplace canteens. to 2017, when Leo Varadkar became 16 Service Towns and the three Irish As part of our doubling of funding for Taoiseach. Language Networks in Clondalkin, the Irish language, we will increase the Ennis and Loughrea. Our approach is to not just preserve funding to the Irish Language Support but to promote the Irish language. It We are committed to developing Scheme, which provides financial is driven by the ambition to improve a new Irish Language Centre in assistance to organisations to help how our native language is taught, Dublin, as a flagship focal point for fund new projects like Irish language to grow Irish-medium education, the language, as well as new Irish cafes, theatres and cultural centres. increase the number of daily Irish Language networks, where there is a We will also expand the ‘Teanga Tí’/ speakers, recruit more Irish speakers desire to do so. Family Language Scheme and explore into the public service and to ensure the introduction of similar schemes that services are provided through the Landmark Irish language to further support and develop the language. legislation language across the country. We are committed to the targets We have already published a new We will ensure that the Houses of the in the 20-year Strategy for the Irish Official Languages Bill and this Oireachtas leads the way in this regard. Language 2010-2030 to grow the landmark legislation involves a number of Irish speakers outside fundamental rethinking of the Supporting the provision education from 83,000 to 250,000; approach to the provision of services of Gaelscoil and to increase the Gaeltacht’s Irish through Irish, as well as upholding Gaelcoláiste speaking population by 25%; and the rights of Irish language speakers. Fine Gael has started the to have 2 million people with Irish by We will ensure that it is enacted as a development of a comprehensive 2030. In 2018, we published a five-year matter of urgency. Irish-medium education policy. action plan (Action Plan 2018-2022) We will work towards doubling the to help drive implementation and Everyday use of the number of young people currently in achieve the targets in a coordinated language Irish-medium schools. We will provide and comprehensive way. In addition, We want to increase the number a Gaelscoil or Gaelcoláiste in any area we will double investment in the Irish of Irish speakers and will expand where there is strong demand for Irish Language and the Islands from €46.7 the opportunities available to all to language-medium education. million to more than €92 million from learn, develop and use the language 2017 to 2025. in everyday life, particularly outside

94 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Joe McHugh Candidate for Donegal

Alan Dillon Candidate for Mayo

Innovations in Irish programme to support the teaching and Language Integrated Learning language education of Irish in schools across the country. (CLIL) Programme. Following a three year pilot, we will introduce a To further support Irish language Innovations such as these and others national programme in which every education, we will expand pilot within Irish language education need to primary school will teach PE through programmes that we have be continuously advanced. To this end, the medium of Irish. We will work introduced, including Seimeastar na we will create a €2 million annual Irish with secondary schools to increase Gaeltachta for third-level students language education fund modelled on the number of schools under the and the scholarship fund for summer the School Excellence Funds. courses for DEIS pupils and resource CLIL Programme and the range of third-level Irish language courses in Oral Irish for Junior Certificate subjects, with an initial focus on PE. We will increase the emphasis on Ireland and abroad. Using the virtual classroom to give spoken Irish within the classroom, more subject choice in Gaeltacht We will continue to support and fund developing projects that engage schools recent innovation in Irish language- pupils and build communities of medium education, such as the We will test the potential for virtual language use within the school and classrooms to allow for more TechSpace technology curriculum for wider community. We will give greater second-level schools. subjects to be taught through Irish prominence to spoken Irish within the at Senior Cycle in the Gaeltacht. Following the enhancement of Junior Cycle, by increasing the focus We will broaden the footprint of funding to Comhar Naíonraí na on each student’s oral Irish in the final innovative and high-tech projects, Gaeltachta, and in recognition of how assessment at Junior Cycle. combining Irish-medium education crucial early years education is to the Content and Language Integrated and technology in schools and future of Irish, we will introduce an Irish Learning (CLIL) as a means of youth centres in all regions. Our aim language module within existing early embedding the Irish language is to develop the leading creative years practitioner courses. further into school life technology network for youth Having expanded and extended the Over the lifetime of the next development through Irish, with a Irish Language Assistants Scheme in Government, we will build on the focus on creating digital media and Gaeltacht schools, we will introduce a recent introduction of the Content STEM material.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 95 Cur le húsáid agus taitneamh na Gaeilge

Tá todhchaí gheal roimh an nGaeilge Aithnímid an gá seirbhísí poiblí a Mar chuid den mhéadú faoi dhó agus cuideoidh Fine Gael sin a chur i chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge do chainteoirí a dhéanfaimid ar mhaoiniú don gcrích. Táimid tiomanta maoiniú don Gaeilge, go háirithe sna 26 cheantar Ghaeilge, méadóimid an maoiniú ar Ghaeilge a mhéadú faoi dhó faoi 2025 pleanála Gaeltachta, ach chomh an Scéim Tacaíochta don Ghaeilge, i gcomparáid le 2017, nuair a rinneadh maith leis sin sna 16 Bhaile Seirbhíse a thugann cúnamh airgeadais Taoiseach de Leo Varadkar. agus na trí Líonra Gaeilge i gCluain d’eagraíochtaí chun cuidiú tionscadail Dolcáin, Inis agus Baile Locha Riach. nua a mhaoiniú ar nós caiféanna, Is é an cur chuige atá againn, ní hé amharclanna agus ionaid chultúrtha amháin an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú Táimid tiomanta Ionad Gaeilge nua lán-Ghaeilge. Leathnóimid amach ach í a chur chun cinn. Is é atá á a fhorbairt i mBaile Átha Cliath, mar chomh maith an Scéim Teanga thiomáint sin ná an uaillmhian an lárphointe suaitheanta don teanga, Teaghlaigh, ‘Teanga Tí’, agus chaoi a múintear ár dteanga dhúchais chomh maith le líonraí nua Gaeilge, breathnóimid ar scéimeanna a fheabhsú, cur leis an oideachas trí mar a bhfuil mian ann sin a dhéanamh. comhchosúla a thabhairt isteach chun Ghaeilge, líon na gcainteoirí laethúla tuilleadh tacaíochta agus forbartha a Gaeilge a ardú, níos mó cainteoirí Reachtaíocht shuntasach thabhairt don teanga ar fud na tíre. Gaeilge a earcú sa tseirbhís phoiblí don Ghaeilge agus a chinntiú go gcuirtear seirbhísí Tá Bille Teangacha Oifigiúla nua Cinnteoimid go mbeidh Tithe an ar fáil tríd an teanga. foilsithe againn cheana féin agus Oireachtais ar thús cadhnaíochta ina leith seo. Táimid tiomanta do spriocanna is é atá i gceist leis an reachtaíocht Straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge 2010- shuntasach seo athsmaoineamh ó 2030 chun líon na gcainteoirí Gaeilge bhonn maidir leis an gcur chuige i leith Tacú le soláthar lasmuigh den oideachas a ardú ó soláthar seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge, chomh Gaelscoileanna agus 83,000 go dtí 250,000; céatadán de maith le seasamh le cearta cainteoirí Gaelcholáistí phobal na Gaeltachta a labhraíonn Gaeilge. Cinnteoimid go n-achtófar Tá tús curtha ag Fine Gael ar pholasaí Gaeilge a ardú faoi 25%, agus 2 milliún an reachtaíocht ar bhonn práinne. maidir le hoideachas trí mheán na daoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu a bheith Gaeilge a fhorbairt. Oibreoimid i dtreo ann faoi 2030. In 2018, d’fhoilsíomar Úsáid laethúil na teanga líon na ndaoine óga atá i scoileanna plean gníomhaíochta cúig bliana Táimid ag iarraidh líon na gcainteoirí lán-Ghaeilge a mhéadú faoi dhó. (Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022) Gaeilge a ardú agus leathnóimid na Cuirfimid Gaelscoil nó Gaelcholáiste ar chun cuidiú an feidhmiú a thiomáint deiseanna atá ar fáil do chách chun an fáil i gceantar ar bith ina bhfuil éileamh chun cinn agus na spriocanna a bhaint teanga a fhoghlaim, a fhorbairt agus sách láidir ar oideachas trí mheán na amach ar bhealach comhordaithe a úsáid sa saol laethúil, go háirithe Gaeilge. agus cuimsitheach. Chomh maith lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Táimid ag leis sin, méadóimid faoi dhó an iarraidh an teanga a chur chun cinn i Nuálaíochtaí san infheistíocht sa Ghaeilge agus sna suíomhanna sóisialta agus in áiteanna oideachas Gaeilge hOileáin, ó €46.7 milliún go dtí níos mó oibre, mar shampla, trí tháblaí Gaeilge Chun tacú le hoideachas Gaeilge ná €92 milliún ó 2017 go dtí 2025. sa cheaintín in áiteanna oibre. a thuilleadh, leathnóimid cláir

96 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

phíolótacha atá tugtha isteach Caithfear nuálaíochtaí mar seo agus tabharfaimid isteach clár náisiúnta ina againn, lena n-áirítear Seimeastar na eile laistigh den oideachas Gaeilge a mbeidh gach bunscoil ag múineadh Gaeltachta do mhic léinn tríú leibhéal chur chun cinn go leanúnach. Chuige corpoideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge. agus an ciste scoláireachta do chúrsaí seo, cruthóimid ciste oideachais Oibreoimid le meánscoileanna chun an samhraidh do dhaltaí DEIS agus Gaeilge ar luach €2 milliún ar mhúnla líon scoileanna faoin gClár FCÁT agus acmhainní a chur ar fáil do chúrsaí na gCistí Sármhaitheasa Scoile. an réimse ábhar a mhéadú, ag díriú ar Gaeilge tríú leibhéal in Éirinn agus thar dtús ar chorpoideachas. Béaltriail Ghaeilge don sáile. Teastas Sóisearach An seomra ranga fíorúil a úsáid Leanfaimid ar aghaidh ag tacú Cuirfimid leis an mbéim ar Ghaeilge chun rogha ábhar níos mó a agus ag maoiniú nuálaíochta in labhartha sa seomra ranga, ag forbairt thabhairt i scoileanna Gaeltachta oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge, ar tionscadal a mheallann daltaí agus Tástálfaimid an fhéidearthacht maidir nós an churaclaim teicneolaíochta a thógann pobail úsáide teanga le seomraí ranga fíorúil chun gur TechSpace do scoileanna dara laistigh den scoil agus sa mhórphobal. féidir níos mó ábhar a mhúineadh trí leibhéal. Tabharfaimid suntasacht níos mó Ghaeilge ag an tSraith Shinsearach don Ghaeilge labhartha laistigh den sa Ghaeltacht. Leathnóimid Tar éis maoiniú a fheabhsú do tSraith Shóisearach, trí chur leis an lorg tionscadal nuálach agus Chomhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta, bhfócas ar Ghaeilge labhartha gach ardteicneolaíochta, ag ceangal le agus mar aitheantas ar a thábhachtaí scoláire sa mheasúnú deiridh sa tSraith chéile oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge atá oideachas luathbhlianta le Shóisearach. agus an teicneolaíocht i scoileanna haghaidh thodhchaí na Gaeilge, agus ionaid óige i ngach réigiún. tabharfaimid isteach modúl Gaeilge Foghlaim Chomhtháite Ábhar Is é ár n-aidhm an príomhlíonra laistigh de chúrsaí atá ann cheana do agus Teangacha (FCÁT) mar mhodh teicneolaíochta cruthaitheach don chleachtóirí luathbhlianta. chun an Ghaeilge a leabú fhorbairt óige trí Ghaeilge a fhorbairt, a thuilleadh i saol na scoile. Tar éis Scéim na gCúntóirí Gaeilge ag díriú ar mheáin dhigiteacha agus Thar shaolré an chéad Rialtas eile, a leathnú i scoileanna Gaeltachta, ábhar a bhaineann le hEolaíocht, tógfaimid ar an gClár um Fhoghlaim tabharfaimid isteach clár nua chun Teicneolaíocht, Innealtóireacht agus Chomhtháite Ábhar agus Teangacha tacú le múineadh na Gaeilge i Matamaitic. (FCÁT) a tugadh isteach le déanaí. scoileanna ar fud na tíre. Tar éis clár píolótach trí bliana,

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 97 Wellbeing and security in the digital age

The internet has transformed our • Ensuring that advertising, consequences, benefits and potential lives. It allows us to connect with loved sponsorship and product harms to children primarily of digital ones in an instant or find information placement are not harmful and that activity. Following this, we will fund on anything. It is impossible to they uphold minimum standards. an ambitious programme to fill the imagine a world without the current • Ensuring effective takedown gaps in the research. As part of their level of hyper connectivity, and this measures. mandate, research will be conducted connectivity will only increase in the into the guidance and measures Online services will be legally obliged years ahead. However, this is not that have been considered and/or to abide by the codes that apply to without its risks. We will focus on implemented in other jurisdictions, them. ensuring that we get the balance regarding online activity and their right and that we can exploit the The Online Safety Commissioner will effectiveness in reducing negative increasing levels of connectivity, while be part of a new Media Commission, consequences. maintaining our collective wellbeing which will replace the Broadcasting and security. Authority of Ireland and will also take Ensuring that we on the role of regulating the audi​ are protected from Legislating for greater ovisual sector. The commissioner cybercrime online safety and media will have a range of strong powers to police the new law. Given Ireland’s leading position as a regulation digital economy, cybercrime poses a In 2020, we will enact a new Online particular threat. This threat extends Safety and Media Regulation Bill to A greater understanding not just to major companies but to place new requirements on online of the consequences of smaller enterprises and to individuals. services to comply with binding digital nativism The major reforms we have initiated Online Safety Codes made by the One of the greatest sources of in An Garda Síochána include the Online Safety Commissioner. uncertainty and anxiety to parents is provision for every division in the when and how their children should State to have expertise in cybercrime. Each Online Safety Code will set out get access to digital technologies We will continue to support the the steps online services must take and to what level they should be implementation of these major to keep their users safe online, in supervised. To inform parents and reforms, to ensure that communities relation to a particular issue. Codes to guide policy-making generally, we are protected from evolving forms of will address a wide range of matters, need much better and more robust criminality. including: evidence. We will implement the new National • Combating cyber bullying material We will task the new Online Safety Cyber Security Strategy, which and material promoting eating Commissioner with developing will ensure that we are taking the disorders, self-harm and suicide a research programme led necessary actions to protect • Ensuring that services operate by internationally recognised Ireland against hacking, cybercrime, effective complaints procedures, experts to review the existing and cryptojacking, hacktivism and cyber where people can request that developing literature in relation to the espionage. material is taken down

98 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Aisling Dolan Candidate for Roscommon Galway

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 99 Continuing political reform Establishing an Electoral • A single, national Electoral Register Committed to a directly Commission Database elected mayor for Dublin We will establish an Electoral • A move to a system of identity Fine Gael is committed to a directly Commission and reform our legislation verification, using one’s PPSN. elected mayor for Dublin. covering online advertising. We want to ensure the proposal for a The Electoral Commission’s role will be Stronger and more Dublin mayor proceeds in a way that to educate and inform the public about accountable local enjoys broad support. Therefore, Fine elections and referendums, to update government, with directly Gael will establish a Dublin Citizens’ and maintain the electoral register and elected mayors Assembly, to consider what type to conduct elections. Fine Gael believes in stronger and of local government structure and directly elected mayor, if any, would As part of this, we will give the Electoral more accountable local government. be most appropriate for Dublin. The Commission the power to regulate We will transfer powers from the city assembly will convene in September online political advertising in the public and county managers to mayors, of this year. Depending on the interest, and introduce a consistent elected by the people for a five- outcome of the Citizens’ Assembly, a regime relating to political advertising year term. This will provide more plebiscite will be held on the subject across all media. We published the accountability. We will create a new in 2021. initial legislation on this before the relationship between the county chief general election and will ensure that executives and the mayor, akin to the Directly elected mayors in other the Electoral Commission is in place by relationship between a minister and a local authority areas the end of 2021. department’s secretary general. If there is demand in any local The directly elected mayor for authority area for a directly elected Modernisation of the Limerick mayor, we will enable the holding of electoral registration The people of Limerick voted to plebiscites in these areas in 2024. process have a directly elected mayor with Demand will be demonstrated either at the request of the local authority We will complete the most radical executive powers. We will ensure itself, or by way of a petition from 20% modernisation process for voter that legislation to give effect to this of registered voters. registration in our State’s history. This decision is passed, so that the first will involve: directly elected mayor can be elected no later than May 2021. Resourcing local authority • The simplification of forms and the In support of this initiative, we will members to deliver on registration process, including an provide exchequer resources of €5 online option their functions million per year from 2022 to Limerick The role and duties of county council • A rolling (continuously updated) City and County Council, to deliver on members have expanded significantly Electoral Register the mayor’s mandate. since 2014. We will ensure that their

100 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

supports reflect these additional the first year of Fine Gael being making. Currently, it only relates to responsibilities. returned to Government. If passed, lobbying activities aimed at elected this will allow Irish citizens in Northern representatives and central and local Reforming the Local Ireland and around the world to vote in Government. However, it does not (LPT) the next presidential election, in 2025. capture lobbying activity targeted Fine Gael believes that money at state agencies, many of which raised locally should be spent locally. Improving the either have significant policy-making Local authorities should have the participation of young autonomy and/or make decisions on maximum level of discretion over people in politics significant budgets. Therefore, we will extend the lobbying register so how money raised through the LPT Fine Gael will ensure a that the lobbying of senior officials should be spent and the level of the comprehensive national consultation in bodies like the Central Bank of rates charged. with young people – as to how Ireland, Comreg, the NTA and the better their voice can be heard Fine Gael, at a national and local HSE will need to be reported. level, is committed to a fair LPT. and the issues that they want their Government to focus on for Therefore, we deferred the Reforming the voting scheduled revaluation to ensure the their future. We will develop a new emergence of a consensus on the National Strategy on Children and procedures in Dáil best way forward. We will legislate for Young people’s Participation in Éireann a local property tax on the basis of: Decision-making 2021-2025. The integrity of the voting process in the Dáil chamber is essential to • fairness Introduce a plain language accountability and the democratic • most homeowners will face no requirement on all public process. Public trust in Dáil voting increase service communication has been damaged in recent times by the ‘Votegate’ scandal. We must • new homes, which are currently Plain language is a way of presenting restore confidence. We will support exempt from the LPT, will become information that helps people the Oireachtas Commission’s liable for it on the same basis as all understand it the first time they recommendations to enhance the other homes read or hear it. Using plain language voting system in the Dáil chamber, • the understanding that money saves time and money and reduces to ensure that members’ votes are raised locally is spent locally mistakes and complaints. It gives recorded accurately and definitively. • the understanding that those people information they understand counties with a lower LPT base and enables them to make informed are adjusted via an annual national choices. Many state bodies are A new expenses regime equalisation fund paid from the already using plain English – for for politicians Exchequer, as is currently the case example, the newly established We recognise that we need to ensure government website, gov.ie, is in accountability and transparency at • there will be more discretion for plain English. We will build on this every level of the political system. councillors to change the LPT rate and introduce a requirement that all We also recognise that rules for their own area, moving beyond communication from state bodies is made for politicians, by politicians, their current ability to raise or in plain language. achieve neither accountability nor decrease the rate by 15%. transparency. Fine Gael will introduce a new system, external to the Extending the Strengthening the Regulation of the political structure, where the use of presidential franchise public funds by TDs and senators We support extending the franchise Lobbying Act can be effectively scrutinised to at presidential elections to Irish The Lobbying Register has been very prevent potential abuses. citizens resident outside the State. effective in bringing a greater level This referendum will take place within of transparency to public decision-

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 101 A future to Look Forward to

Budgetary assumptions and costings

We face a clear choice in this election: between a future to look forward to and a return to the mistakes of the past. A Fine Gael-led government that will deliver a strong Brexit trade deal with the UK, reduce debt so we can keep investing in schools, hospitals and homes and ensure that you pay less tax on more of your earnings. Under Fine Gael our economy has grown strongly, there is a job for everyone who needs one and wages are rising. That is why for two years in a row we are taking in more revenue than we are spending. Running a surplus like this makes sense as it protects us from any fall in the tax take from multinationals, which is a clear risk once global tax rules change. We have also used our strong economy to invest in the infrastructure our society needs – that is why we have doubled capital spending in recent years. With our Project Ireland 2040 plan, we will continue to invest in the future, so that we can tackle climate change and provide the broadband and public transport that every part of the country needs. All of these proposals assume the economic outlook noted in this annex. Crucially, this manifesto assumes the achievement of a good outcome to the Brexit process.

FINE GAEL ECONOMIC PLAN In the event of a shock to the economy, such as a hard Brexit deal or a greater than expected decline in corporation Our country deserves a better future. To ensure this, our tax receipts, Fine Gael will: plan is: • Relax the debt rule to 90-95% of national income by 2025; To responsibly manage the public finances • Allow the surplus to decline. Fine Gael will manage the public finances responsibly This is prudent management of the economy. based on the following principles: Investing now for the future • When the economy is growing, increases in day to day By 2040, we will have a population of 6 million. That is why spending will match the pace of economic growth and we brought forward Project Ireland 2040, which consists of a inflation; €116 billion National Development Plan and is based on the • We will achieve and then maintain a surplus of at least National Planning Framework. This means that for the first 1% of GDP (€3.8 billion) by 2021 to protect against the time in Ireland’s history our planning and capital investment inevitable decline in corporation tax revenue; and plans are aligned. This will help ensure that future population and economic growth are more balanced than was the case • We will reduce our public debt level to around 85% of in the past. national income by 2025 and then to 60% by 2030.

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 103 This year’s budget will increase capital expenditure at an the higher rate of tax to €50,000 over the next 5 years. average annual rate of 5.8% out to 2024. In 2020, we will The average full-time wage in Ireland is €47,596. invest 4.4% of GNI* in public infrastructure and maintain it However, people start paying the top-rate of tax at at around this level throughout the next Government. €35,300. This is deeply unfair. We believe this level of investment is ambitious and The annual benefit for the average earner at the end of prudent and will provide for the right level of investment five years is just under €3,000, which will ensure that tax in infrastructure to meet our current and future needs, levels keep up with projected income growth. If we don’t without exposing the economy to risks of overheating, make this change, more of people’s incomes will go to the crowding out of private sector investment, or the tax as their wages increase. development of imbalances in the economy as occurred in the past. Our capital investment commitments for In addition to that, we will raise the Earned Income Tax social housing, hospitals, universities, public transport Credit for the self-employed to match the PAYE Tax and all other projects - are based on existing Project Credit and maintain that parity into the future. We will Ireland 2040 and Government capital ceilings. also increase the Home Carers Tax Credit to €1,650 so that it is equal to the PAYE Tax Credit, and maintain that Increasing take home pay equalisation in future years, to recognise the work of Fine Gael will always prioritise the improvement of people’s parents who stay at home. living standards. As people’s wages increase, it is critical that the taxation system does not prevent them from seeing ECONOMIC AND BUDGETARY improvements in their take home pay by failing to keep pace ASSUMPTIONS with this wage inflation. Our proposed Budget package commitments are predicated on the current economic forecasts from the In order to prevent people’s taxes increasing as their wages Department of Finance. increase, we will change the point at which an individual pays

Table 1: Department of Finance Economic projections 2020-2025

Change 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Gross Domestic Product (% 3.9 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.5 increase)

New jobs 42,000 40,000 38,000 39,000 40,000 38,000

104 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

Budgetary Assumptions In keeping with the approach adopted in Budget 2020, any Table 2 below provides an overview of the budgetary supplementary estimates in a given year will be excluded packages we propose out to 2025. We have included from the available resources in the following year. all current and capital pre-commitments in line with the These annual budgetary packages will enable us to methodology applied in the 2019 Summer Economic achieve a surplus of €3.8 billion by 2021. Achieving a Statement and as set out in the medium-term fiscal budgetary surplus is the first line of defence for the strategy published by the Department of Finance on 9 inevitable shocks that the economy will face over the January. short- and medium-term. These pre-commitments include the carryover cost In order to protect the public finances from the clear of 2020 budgetary measures, the costs relating to the risks in corporation tax receipts, we are projecting an Public Service Stability Agreement, the cost of meeting annual decline in corporation tax revenue from 2022 demographic pressures in areas like health, education onwards. This is in line with estimates from the Revenue and social protection and increases in capital expenditure Commissioners. under Project Ireland 2040. Post 2022, the allocation of capital expenditure by Departments remains to be We have also assumed a €500m contribution to the Rainy finalised, but will be in line with Project Ireland 2040. Day Fund from 2021 onwards but it should be noted that this does not affect the general government balance.

Table 2: Budgetary Overview 2020-2025 € million 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 BEPS / Corporation -500 -1,000 -1,500 -2,000 Tax Safeguard

Tax Revenue 66,500 69,200 71,600 74,300 76,800 Voted 73,400 75,700 78,400 81,200 84,000 Expenditure GGB Surplus (% of 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.3 GDP) Inclusive of: Tax package -600 -600 -600 -600 -600

Spending increase 3,000 2,300 2,700 2,800 2,800 TOTAL budget 3,600 2,900 3,300 3,400 3,400 package

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 105 Proposed Budgetary Packages 2021-2025 The table below proposes budgetary packages for each year. It includes the following assumptions: • Existing spending commitments in line with the Summer Economic Statement and Budget 2020 • Proposed revenue raising measures of a widened property tax base and changes in tax on tobacco as well as the introduction of specific taxation measures targeted at e-cigarettes and vaping. • Provision for payment of a new transitional pension • An annual tax package each year of up to €600 million • €5 billion additional Health spending over the next five years • A social welfare package of €5 on all working age payments except for Job Seekers Allowance • An assumption of public pay increases of 2.5% • All capital projects are included in the Project Ireland 2040 plan. The assumed rate of public pay increase is in line with the current wage agreement. Fine Gael remains committed to a change in carbon tax of €6 per tonne in each budget. This is not included in this analysis as all revenue raised from these changes will be ring fenced for investment in just transition measures, public transport and protecting our vulnerable. This will maintain the approach of Budget 2020. Table 3 below lays out larger manifesto commitments, and the amount of each budget package per year that is still available to be allocated.

Table 3: Detailed Budgetary Packages 2021 – 2025 (m):

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Proposed Budget Packages (1) 3600 2900 3300 3400 3400 Plus LPT Reform 18 6 6 6 6 Plus Compliance 50 50 50 50 50 Plus Tobacco & Vaping Tax 50 50 50 50 50 Total Budgetary Packages 3718 3006 3406 3506 3506 From this the following commitments are subtracted: Minus Pre-committed 1,000 500 500 500 500 current expenditure Consisting of: Public Pay 300 Carryover 200 Demographics 500 500 500 500 500 Minus Pre-committed 1,000 200 300 600 500 capital expenditure (2) Minus Tax reductions 599 594 553 532 535 Total Un-Allocated 1119 1712 2053 1874 1971 From this the following Manifesto Commitments and Assumptions are subtracted: Extra Funding for Health Services 525 640 730 640 670 New Public Pay Deal 0 500 500 500 500 Social Welfare 316 320 324 328 332 New Transition Pension 150 4 4 4 4 Remaining for New Policies 128 248 495 402 465

106 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 A future to Look Forward to

(1) Forecasts from Department of Finance (2) Forecast from Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Pre-committed capital expenditure comprises the resources allocated to fund Project Ireland 2040. New Spending Commitments Health Funding This plan delivers an increase in current health funding of €5 billion over the next 5 years. This is in line with the expected growth in health demand during that period. In 2021 total extra current health funding will be €883 million. This comprises extra funding of €525 million in addition to €150m for demographics, €128m from the PSSA and an €80m carryover from Budget 2020. From 2022 onwards we will increase current health funding by at least an extra €1 billion per year. This consists of additional funding of at least €640 million as well as €150m for demographics and €210m for the health element of any new pay agreement. Table 4 below lays out itemised spending per year for additional specific manifesto commitments. These are funded by the amounts remaining for allocation to new policies in Table 3 above. The budgetary resources available to fund new spending commitments exceeds the total cost of new policies. Table 4: Additional manifesto commitments 2021-2025 SPECIFIC MANIFESTO COMMITMENTS 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 7 week increase in parental leave -- 45 31 - Increase childcare investment 40 50 100 100 110 Free primary school books - 20 22 -- Schools capitation increase 4 14 14 14 14 Hot school meals 9 18 18 18 18 Pupil teacher ratio reduction in small schools - 1 1 -- Increase SUSI grant threshold 10 ---- Increase support to Local Enterprise Offices 1 1 1 1 1 Increase sports spending 7 12 15 20 20 Double culture spending 10 15 50 30 60 Cross border school collaboration 1 1 --- Remove charges for school transport 3 3 3 3 4 Extend coverage for school transport - 4 --- Defence Force medical support - 10 --- Directly elected mayors - 5 --- Equalization fund LPT -- 30 30 40 Higher education funding - 30 75 75 100 700 additional Garda recruits 32 32 32 32 32 Extension of Micro-finance to €50,000 - 2 --- Establishing the online-retail scheme - 4 --- Expansion of disadvantaged areas 6 9 18 18 18 taskforces Tourism Ireland regional marketing 2 ---- Sheep Welfare Scheme - 10 --- TOTAL cost of new policies 125 241 424 372 417

Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020 107 TAX PLAN This plan assumes that up to €600 million each year is used for tax reform and reduction. In any given year the indicative tax package is below this level to ensure that the total budgetary package delivers our surplus targets. Key commitments on an annual basis are:

Table 5: Tax Commitments per Year

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Increasing the Standard Rate Cut Off Point 477 477 477 477 477

Increased tax credits (Earned Income and Carers) 3 21 15 --

Help to Buy Expansion 65 30 30 30 30

Capital Acquisitions Tax Reform 12 9 6 5 8

Small Business Tax Package 15 20 25 20 20

Increase USC exemption 27 37 ---

Total Cost 599 594 553 532 535

108 Fine Gael General Election Manifesto 2020