Fine Gael TDs and general election hopefuls gather in Offaly today for a two-day party think-in at the Tullamore Court Hotel. In his opening address at the pre-general election gathering, Taoiseach and party leader Simon Harris is expected to reveal details of the Fine Gael manifesto. It is understood that the general election manifesto will include proposals to create a publicly funded early learning and childcare system. Mr Harris will also outline other proposals at the think-in which takes place before the Dail returns next week.
Speculation is mounting that a general election will take place later this year, most likely in early November after a giveaway Budget. Fine Gael has already chosen chosen 47 candidates in 30 constituencies ahead of the election – including Cllr John Clendennen in the new three-seater Offaly constituency.
Mr Harris is expected to tell the attendance today that Fine Gael will deliver for people if returned to power in the next election. The party has a high number of experienced TDs who have announced they are stepping down: of the 26 TDs across the Dail who have announced they will not contest the next general election, 15 are from Fine Gael.
There are 23 Fine Gael candidates running for the first time, six of whom have never ran for public office before. The party has reportedly set September as a deadline for selecting all its candidates, fuelling rumours that leader Mr Harris is gearing up for an election before the end of the year.
Mr Harris is expected to tell delegates that the party will offer “a team of experience and new energy” at the next election. He is set to say: “As I travel around the country, people do not ask me the election date. They ask me what are we doing to help their family, what are we doing to help them find a home, what are we doing to keep their businesses viable, what are we doing to help them day to day. That is what I want us to focus on.”
It is expected Taoiseach will focus on housing, migration and cost of living in his opening address to party members. He is also expected to outline Fine Gael’s priorities in Budget 2025, which include boosting home ownership, cutting the cost of raising a family through reduced taxes and supports for education costs, supports for businesses, and investing in disability services to help children get access to assessment of needs and school places.
A Publicly Funded Childcare System
Simon Harris is expected to announce a proposal to set up a public childcare system during an address to his Fine Gael party on Wednesday. Childcare and housing will be among the topics under discussion at the Fine Gael think-in being held in Co Offaly over the next two days. The Taoiseach, who has hinted previously he was considering such plans, is expected to confirm he is working with his party colleagues on proposals to build a publicly-funded early learning and childcare offering, which will form part of the education system. Mr Harris is expected to set out an aim to create an affordable, accessible model that will reduce the reliance on the private sector.
Is Childcare a Pre-Election Promise?
Childcare is expected to be an area of focus for political parties ahead of the general election, as parents struggle to find childcare places and early-education providers grapple with increasing costs. On Monday, Green Party leader and Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said he believes the State “needs to be taking an even greater role” in childcare. He said his party would make two years of free early childhood care and education (ECCE) a legal right. Asked if a public childcare model would be part of the Green Party election manifesto, Mr O’Gorman told RTE Radio that the next few years should be about “delivering extra capacity in areas that need it”.
A New Era for Fine Gael
More than 70 Fine Gael politicians and general election candidates are to meet in Tullamore on Wednesday and Thursday. Fine Gael will confirm it has chosen 47 candidates across 30 constituencies, 16 of whom are women or 34% of their candidates – short of the required 40% gender quota. The party has a high number of experienced TDs who have announced they are stepping down: of the 26 TDs across the Dail who have announced they will not contest the next general election, 15 are from Fine Gael. There are 23 Fine Gael candidates running for the first time, six of whom have never ran for public office before. The party has reportedly set September as a deadline for selecting all its candidates, fuelling rumours that leader Mr Harris is gearing up for an election before the end of the year. Mr Harris is expected to tell delegates that the party will offer “a team of experience and new energy” at the next election. He is set to say: “As I travel around the country, people do not ask me the election date. They ask me what are we doing to help their family, what are we doing to help them find a home, what are we doing to keep their businesses viable, what are we doing to help them day to day. That is what I want us to focus on.” It is expected Taoiseach will focus on housing, migration and cost of living in his opening address to party members. He is also expected to outline Fine Gael’s priorities in Budget 2025, which include boosting home ownership, cutting the cost of raising a family through reduced taxes and supports for education costs, supports for businesses, and investing in disability services to help children get access to assessment of needs and school places.
