Micheál Martin will take up the mantle of Taoiseach until November.
Micheál Martin will be the Taoiseach until the 16th of November 2027, under a deal reached between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
Their respective parliamentary parties have been meeting this afternoon to discuss the contents of the Programme for Government.
It is expected the Regional Independents Group will support the partnership with Michael and Danny Healy-Rae.
Multiple sources expect Longford-Westmeath TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran to secure a Junior Ministerial role.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have released a number of headline announcements for the forthcoming administration.
Education
Decrease the student teacher ratio to 19:1 at primary school level.
Increase capitation grants for school funding.
Establish a new DEIS plus scheme to help the most disadvantaged schools.
Provide free period products in schools.
General Secretary with the Teacher's Union of Ireland, Tullamore's Michael Gillespie says the student teacher ratio must be addressed for secondary schools as a matter of priority:
Housing
The Government promises to build 300,000 homes between now and 2030.
Plans to reform and streamline compulsory purchase orders.
Introduce statutory timelines for the connections for water/waste water for housing developments.
Extend the Help to Buy Scheme to 2030 as well as the First Homes Scheme.
Build an average of 12,000 social homes a year.
Progressively increase the renters tax credit.
Establish a rent price register.
Health
Legislate for a right to be forgotten for cancer survivors seeking insurance to take effect seven years after the end of treatment.
Reduce waiting times to the Slaintecare target of 10 to 12 weeks.
Increase the number of hospital inpatient beds by 4 - 4,500.
Increase the number of ICU beds by 100.
Build four new elective hospitals - two in Dublin, one in Cork and one in Galway.
'Open the National Children's Hospital.'
Increase staffing and resources for spinal surgeries for children
Increase the number of consultants in emergency medicine by 50%
Expand free GP services to children under the age of 12
Consider further reductions in the drugs payment scheme and hospital parking charges
Extend the ages for BowelScreen and BreastCheck
Fund universal access to hairpieces, post-mastectomy products and
specialised bras
Explore ways to ban commercial sunbed use.
Expand eligibility for free IVF
Climate
Reduce emissions by 51% out to 2030 from 2018 levels in line with previous commitments.
Improve retrofitting grants in order to deliver more B2 home equivalents each year.
Legislate to allow for district heating systems and explore the idea of group retrofitting to make it more economical.
Commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics and an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy.
Childcare
Reduce the cost of childcare to €200 a month and explore capping the fees for larger families.
Airports
Government commits to Create a Transport Security Force under the National Transport Authority, which would operate and have similar powers to the Airport Police and Customs officers.
Transport
Roll out contactless fare payments on all public transport and keep fares low and affordable.
Refocus the Department of Public Expenditure to have more control over spending on big projects.
Upgrade real time tracking of public transport.
Further expand free public transport for children.
Ensure all metropolitan areas have a tailored public transport plan including bus and light rail where appropriate.
Infrastructure
A new infrastructure division will sit within the Department of Public Expenditure and will be subject to a new Public Investment Act, requiring sponsoring agencies to meet timelines on development of project appraisals and other evaluations so as to reduce delays in decision making and embed value for money across all capital projects.
Man In His 70s Dies At Midlands Concrete Manufacturing Plant
Lower VAT "Fantastic Result" For Hospitality - Pat McDonagh
Junior Minister Wants To See Justice For Shooting Of Endangered Eagle
Westmeath Driving Test Wait Times Highest In Midlands
Emergency Services Tend To Car Fire In Westmeath
Over 70 New Homes Could Be Coming To Westmeath
Diageo To Increase Price Of Draughts From Next Month
Emergency Services Attending Three-Vehicle Crash in Offaly
Laois And Offaly County Councils Overspend On Invasive Plant Control
Most Expensive Midlands Hotel Stay Costs €143
Mullingar Road To Be Renamed After Joe Dolan
Teen Hospitalised Following Alleged Assault In Laois
Investigation Launched As Endangered Eagle Found Dead In Westmeath
Application For Laois Wind Farm Deemed Invalid
Laois Man Who Crashed Into Miniature St Patrick's Day Steam Engine Loses Right To Drive
Alleged Longford Arson Case Involving Westmeath Man May Be Relocated
Mental Health Charity Offers Tips For Successful Dry January
Uisce Eireann Warning Westmeath Customers Over Service Disruption
Midlands IFTA Nominations Revealed
Offaly Family Resource Centre To Start Bereavement Support Sessions