5 key points from Independent Ireland's manifesto

Independent Ireland has published its election manifesto, pledging a range of promises from housing to cost of living.

Here's the main points from their manifesto, covering five key policy areas:

1. Housing and planning

Declare a housing emergency in order to "expeditiously implement solutions".

Deflate rents by extending the Accommodation Recognition Payment to all landlords.

Reduce building time and costs by promoting modular, prefabricated and log cabin housing.

Provide standard designs for social and affordable housing to drive efficiency and lower costs.

Increase infrastructure funding for community and social housing by €600 million per year.

Streamline planning permissions to reduce bureaucratic delays and encourage faster construction.

2. Agriculture and Fisheries

Oppose the Mercosur Trade Deal.

Ensure no farmer is forced to re-wet their lands under the Nature Restoration Laws.

Provide for a €300m farm retirement scheme to facilitate the transfer of 20,000 to 30,000 farms to younger farmers.

Create a €200m rainy day fund to protect farmers against adverse weather.

Fight to increase the quota for Irish fishing vessels.

Increase investment in deep sea ports around the country to reduce pressure in Dublin.

3. Immigration

Obligate IPAS centres to follow the same planning regulations as every other entity.

Impose VAT to the contracts of hotels accommodating IPAS applicants.

Allow the revocation of naturalised citizenship in cases where such a person is convicted to serious violent or sexual crimes.

Ensure people seeking permanent residence permits must take a six-month course on Irish history and culture and pass an exam provided in English and Irish only.

Require airlines to provide scans of passports presented pre-flight to identify people who destroy or lose their identity documents.

Impose strict background checks on all visa applicants.

4. Cost of living

Abolish USC and PRSI contributions for pension-aged people who continue to work.

Freeze all green taxes pending a review of their effectiveness.

Reduce VAT to 9% for tourism and hospitality, excluding accommodation.

Subsidise rental accommodation for front-line workers like nurses teachers and gardaí.

Encourage skilled Irish workers - builders, teachers and health workers - to return from abroad by providing tax relief for five years.

Enable An Post to deliver a full-suite of banking services in rural Ireland.

5. Efficiency and Reform

Establish the Department of Efficiency and Reform to deliver 10% savings of 2024 government spend over the term of the next government.

This would be comprised of appointed commissioners secured from the private sector, such as solicitors, auditors and actuaries.

Conduct unannounced audits and inspections of public bodies, NGOs and agencies.

Investigate waste, inefficiencies or mismanagement of funds.

Ensure procurement and tendering processes are streamlined.

Reduce government bureaucracy by leveraging private expertise.

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