After several years of disruption and in a context of competing policy priorities, pressures have been building in many areas such as childcare and housing, while more needs to be done to ensure we make the best use of skills and talent in the workforce by promoting diversity and inclusion. These issues present ongoing challenges but there is also an opportunity for policy responses that improve quality of life, support participation in the labour force and deliver a more inclusive society.
Summary / Key measures
The set of measures in this section seeks to support the delivery of our housing plans and enable access to childcare and support participation and inclusion in the workplace.
1
Moving from taxing housing transactions to stocks
Cost: €0m
2
Vacant housing should be taxed
Cost: Uncertain but international evidence suggests the low tens of millions of euro
3
Extend 'Help to Buy'
Cost: €180m
4
Reform commercial rates
Cost: €0m
5
The Zoned Land tax should be reviewed for its effectiveness
Cost: €0m
6
Increase universal subsidy and income thresholds and incentivise the provision of childcare places for children under three.
Cost: €157m
7
Support out-of-school hours care system
Cost: €10m
8
Increase funding for Carers' Guarantee
Cost: €3m
9
Amalgamate existing employment supports for persons with a disability into a single grant
Cost: €0m
10
Increase and reform the subsidy scheme for persons with a disability
Cost: €10m
11
Extend personal assistant and reader support, and open Disability Awareness Training Scheme to all employers
Cost: €20m
12
Work within new EU Directive rules to ensure our VAT rates promote lower health costs
Cost: €5m
