Fine Gael's election manifesto wins — and where it lost out in the programme for government
Fine Gael's manifesto called for a cut in the Vat rate from 13.5% to 11% but the party has managed to go further than this and is likely to secure a cut to 9% in the next budget. iStock
Less two months ago, during the general election campaign, Fine Gael launched its manifesto with the party's proposals for government over the next five years.
Pledges to cut taxes, introduce a new saving scheme for children and totally abolish student fees were just some of the pledges the party made.
So how does the new programme for government compare to Fine Gael's election manifesto? Where did the party secure key wins and what has it lost out on?
One key pledge from Fine Gael leader Simon Harris during the campaign was his call for the introduction of a standalone Department of Infrastructure, which would be responsible for the delivery of megaprojects across the State.
The full proposal from Fine Gael was to wrap infrastructure alongside climate and transport.
While there is going to be a further focus on infrastructure in the new government, it will not be a standalone department and will instead fold into the existing Department of Public Expenditure.
This new Department of Public Expenditure and Infrastructure will be responsible for reviewing the National Development Plan, as well as working with other departments to deliver large scale projects.
It will also be responsible for delivering a new Public Investment Act — which will introduce timelines for state agencies to reduce delays in infrastructure project decision making.
There will also be a new Cabinet committee on Infrastructure, which is to be led by the Taoiseach.
Fine Gael’s proposals on childcare were well flagged heading into the election, with the party seeking to cut the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child.
For larger families, the plan was to cap it at €600 per month for any family with more than three children.
The party will be pleased as it secured a key manifesto win here, as the new programme for government commits to progressively reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month in the years ahead.
It is more wooly on a cap for larger families however, with the document saying that the new coalition would explore options on this matter.
Fine Gael sources are also trumpeting a commitment to develop State-led childcare facilities as a key win, which would be done in tandem with the school building programme.
A cut in the Vat rate for hospitality businesses was a story that ran for months and months, with the party making clear this was its aim as far back as pre-Budget 2025 discussions.
While the manifesto called for a cut in the Vat rate from 13.5% to 11%, the party has actually managed to go further than this and is likely to secure a cut to 9% in the next budget.
This is due to come alongside a package of supports for the business sector.
One surprise from Fine Gael’s manifesto was the proposal to introduce an SSIA-style savings account for newborn children, whereby €1,000 would be lodged in a specialised account when a baby is born.
While it would steadily accrue over the years if left alone, parents would be able to top it up by as much as €2,000 per year.
This could have seen some children end up with as much as €53,316 by the time they turn 18.
This led to criticism, however, that it would only be effective for more well-off families.
But in the programme for government, the proposal is not nailed down. Instead, the document says that the new coalition will explore the possibility of such a saving scheme, that would include a once-off payment from the State.
It says this exploration would ensure that families on lower incomes would benefit most from its inception.
Another key pledge from Simon Harris during the election campaign was to completely abolish third-level fees across a full term of government.
There is a commitment within the programme for government to reduce the student contribution fee over the next five years, with the document saying this should be done in a “financially sustainable manner”.
However, this does not go as far as saying fees will be abolished completely by the time the coalition's term ends.
The party has scored some wins in the housing sector, with the programme for government agreeing to expand the First Home scheme to second-hand homes, as set out in the manifesto.
However, the pledge to extend the Help to Buy scheme to second-hand homes has not been included in the coalition's plan.
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