FF manifesto:Abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers was the central new proposal contained in Fianna Fáil's election manifesto.
Such an abolition would take place immediately after the election and be back-dated to April of this year, the party promised.
It would also be accompanied by a 20 per cent increase in mortgage interest relief from the end of next year, which would apply to all first-time buyers who had bought houses from 2000 on.
In all, the manifesto published yesterday commits Fianna Fáil to increasing spending by between €888 million and €2.8 billion a year to 2012.
Its taxation commitments will cost an additional €2.2 billion by 2012, while its tax reform proposals are costed at €1.996 billion a year by 2012.
The creation of 20 new local injury clinics was also highlighted in the manifesto. These facilities would "decrease dependence on A&E", the party claimed.
A new free annual personal health check would be available for all adults, Fianna Fáil promised, while it would also provide 1,500 new hospital beds for public patients.
Fianna Fáil is also promising to hire an addition 2,000 gardaí by 2012. A new "community payback" scheme of community service will also be introduced for non-violent petty offenders, while parents will have to bear responsibility for the criminal damage and costs of their children's anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour teams will also be created for each council area.
Mandatory drug testing is also promised for all prisoners. Court procedures are to be modernised, and a domestic violence prevention office will be established.
Four thousand extra teachers will be appointed if Fianna Fáil is elected, the party promised; €4.5 billion will be invested in schools and capitation grants will be doubled for primary students. Reductions in class sizes will be prioritised in Irish, English and maths subjects at second level.
Fianna Fáil promised to reduce the rate of standard tax from 20 per cent to 18 per cent over the lifetime of the next administration, while at the same time cutting the higher band from 41 to 40 per cent. Tax bands will be increased in line with inflation.
The PRSI rate will be cut to 2 per cent, but the current ceiling will be lifted. The old age pension will be increased from its current level of just over €200 to €300 by 2012. An SSIA-type pension initiative for pension savings will also be examined.
On the economy, Fianna Fáil says it will create 250,000 jobs between now and 2012, through tax reforms and investment in skills and training development. Investment will be doubled in research and development.
Rolling out the National Development Plan was also highlighted as a priority, including the completion of the five inter-urban motorways, six new Luas projects, two Metro lines and feasibility studies into Luas lines for Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
The White Paper on Energy will also be implemented, including the break-up of the ESB. The manifesto also speaks of bringing about "a green energy revolution" to meet the State's climate change strategy. Biofuel support, public transport and changing vehicle registration tax are all mentioned as contributing towards this.
In the agriculture and food sector mandatory "country of origin" labelling will be introduced for sheep, pig and poultry meat. There is also a commitment to oppose any restriction on live animal exports. Forestry is also promised continued grant aid.
Fianna Fáil is also promising playgrounds in all towns and rural areas, with additional funding for community facilities, swimming pools, sports centres, football pitches and other community facilities promised.
A total of 90,000 social and affordable housing units are promised. The party said it would ensure that "no rezoning for residential development can take place without a prior commitment of an appropriate proportion of land for schools, childcare, health centres and community centres." Management companies will also be regulated.
The party is also promising increased rates for the early childcare supplement and child benefit, and it will ensure that "every child has access to an affordable pre-school place by 2012".