Children to get second free year of preschool from September

The Government will introduce a second free year for preschool children from September 2016 as part of key priorities during the first year of its term.

The administration, comprised of 50 Fine Gael TDs and eight Independent TDs, on Friday published a priority programme for Government actions.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he has held bilateral meetings with 10 of his 14 senior Ministers. He also disclosed a Cabinet subcommittee on housing had met five times in an effort to address the acute crisis of homelessness. Minister for Housing Simon Coveney is expected to publish an action plan on housing by the end of July.

Each of the 15 departments was asked to outline between three and five priorities. The only specific promise from the Department of Finance is to introduce a low rate of capital gains tax for start-ups to apply from January. It also promises to deliver “further cuts in the USC” but no date is specified.

The priority for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is to set up a public service pay commission and allocate an extra €4 billion in capital spending.

Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar has said he intends to introduce the promised two-weeks paternity benefit from September.

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has proposed the introduction of electronic tagging for those on bail and to make bail terms stricter for repeat serious offenders.

The Department of Education is promising to reduce pupil-teacher ratios for infants from September 2017 and to have a new admissions system in place by then.