Education:Fine Gael in government would invest €162m a year in providing a year's pre-school education before full-time schooling, education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright TD told the ardfheis.
"We will significantly expand the number of community pre-school facilities, focusing on areas of educational disadvantage as a priority, but we will also subsidise at least two-thirds of the cost of pre-school education for all children in the State," she said.
Other proposals contained in First Step Forward: Supporting Pre-School and Early Education, launched by Ms Enright and Fine Gael's family affairs spokesman David Stanton include:
A Schools Excellence Fund, from which primary and secondary schools will be able to draw. "It is unfair to expect schools to develop new and better policies and then offer no money to help them implement these. Some time ago, we announced a Schools Excellence Fund of €100 million for post- primary schools. Today I am delighted to announce we are also making this commitment to primary schools."
Lower class sizes at primary level.
A radical overhaul of the School Building Programme.
Ensuring that children with physical or intellectual disabilities receive the best education.
Increasing the number of psychologists employed by the National Educational Psychological Service, so that this service is extended to all schools.
Immediately examine establishing a separate speech and language service for the education sector.
Reform of planning to ensure the provision of schools, playing fields and other community facilities.
Mr Stanton told the ardfheis that Fine Gael would increase paid maternity leave, introduce one week's paid paternity leave for the first time and introduce one week's paid parental leave, for either parent to take.