Today, Fine Gael unveiled its common-sense agenda to support Irish families.

While touring the Wexford and Carlow-Kilkenny constituencies, Fine Gael
leader Enda Kenny discussed his party’s plans.

“The family is the most important institution in our country and it’s under
more pressure than ever before. I’ve met thousands of families throughout
Ireland who look at all our wealth, all our hard-work, all our opportunity,
asking: after all those years, after all we’ve spent, after all we’ve done,
look where we are – is this it? My answer is NO. Absolutely not. This is a
great country. But we can still do so much better. We can be so much better.

“I know how our families feel – I’m a father of three young children myself.
I know how government decisions make family life harder, not easier, in so
many ways. We intend to change that, with a common sense agenda to support
our families, at the heart of The Contract for a Better Ireland and our
broader vision for government.

“We’ll change the tax system to provide an extra €1000 relief for those who
stay at home to care for children or the elderly, an extra €5,000 tax relief
for single income families, and an end to stamp duty as we know it. We’ll
provide access to a year’s pre-school education for every child and a refund
of €1,500 a year for those who use quality-assured childcare. We’ll increase
the Old Age Pension to €300 per week and expand access to the carers’
allowance. Lastly, we’ll provide free GP visits for all children under 5,
free health insurance for all children under 16, and confront the tragic
rise in suicide we’ve seen in recent years.

“These common sense steps will help families deal with the strain of modern
life by making government part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Ends