Making the Future Work  The Democratic Left Vision  Democratic Left is a socialist party, with the guiding principle  that no society, however rich, can live at ease if some of its  citizens are deprived of the fruits of prosperity. This is social  justice: all of us are born equal, all of us deserve an equal  chance. It is also common sense; all of us will benefit when  each of us is able to make a contribution. The poverty trap of  inadequate education, long term unemployment, and welfare  dependence is a bitter inheritance passed from generation to  generation in tens of thousands of families. This is a cruel  injustice to the victims, and a shameful waste of human  resources that can be put to use.  Now, when the economy is doing so well, is the time to  decisively. Democratic Left's short term objective is to relieve  the symptoms of poverty, with further improvements in social  welfare provision for families individuals without resources.  however, the next government must put in place all necessary  policies - for education, training and job provision - that will  eliminate for good the cycle of deprivation and exclusion. In  finalising the next government's programme with our partners,  we will insist on a full commitment to achieving this within ten  years.  Making the Future Work  Poverty Amidst Plenty  Ireland's economic performance under the Rainbow coalition is  an outstanding success : we've got the fastest economic growth  among the world's 26 richest countries. Unemployment is  falling at last, with over 1,000 people finding jobs in Ireland  each week. This fantastic performance is something to be proud  of - and yet it cannot conceal Ireland's deep-seated problems of  child poverty, exclusion and long term unemployment for many  thousands of people.  Four years ago, Ireland had one of the highest levels of poverty  in the European Union. since then large increases in child  benefit, introduced by Prionsias De Rossa have improved  support for low income families. The development of a National  Anti-Poverty Strategy has begun to tackle this problem. But  much more needs to be done. Even the relatively well off  among us experience growing frustration at the level of  environmental degradation, and the failure of public services  like education and health care to keep pace with economic  progress. Democratic Left wants to put the ordinary decencies  of human life at the centre of policy making: - we want people  to flourish along with the Gross National Product.  Democratic Left Manifesto  Making the Future Work  We've Only Just Begun...  Democratic Left has already made significant difference in  government, from bringing forward greatly improved Child  Benefit, paying equality arrears to 70,000 married women and  focusing extra education spending on schools in deprived areas,  to ending the water tax and moving vigorously against  organised crime. In particular, this is the first government to  seriously address the drugs issue, a campaign piloted by  Democratic Left.  We kept our promises Within the limits of prudent state  spending, and a partnership approach on the economy,  DEMOCRATIC LEFT reinforced the human dimension of the  Rainbow  Government's programme.  But we've only just begun. A full 5-year term to implement a  common platform with Fine Gael and Labour will make a real  impact on poverty, being to the tax-system, and apply some of  the benefits of economic growth to improving everyone's  quality of  life. Given another strong voice in the Dail, and in government,  DEMOCRATIC LEFT will be a guarantor thatthe social policy  priorities are addressed urgently, and will prevent any selfish  dissipation of Ireland'sunique economic opportunity.  In this election, DEMOCRATIC LEFT is proposing practical  policies will government's in crucial areas. Our Social Lists  ofdemands set ambitious policy objectives that can be achieved  within 5 years - a full term of office. And just as we have done  so far, we will keep our promises.  Jobs  Despite recent unprecedented progress on job creation,  unemployment is still much too high. We are currently creating  1,000 jobs each week, and have the policies to continue doing  so. The specific measures set out in Democratic Left's "Passport  to Work" programme include:  A guaranteed offer of a job, training or education for every  person who is long term unemployed.  Better co-ordination of existing services.  Maintenance of a high level of investment in economic  development.  Identification and direction of investment to  industrial growth sectors in the future.  Fair Taxes  There are still serious inequities in the Irish tax system. People  on low incomes still pay too much tax. So do middle income  earners. Yet many tax breaks are available to the very rich who  can afford to put money into various investment schemes. The  fruits of a prospering economy should include improved public  services and lower taxes fairly distributed.  Tax reduction will be focused mainly on low incomes and  middle earners. But, all taxpayers will benefit.  Nobody will pay tax on the first £100 p.w.of income. (£200 p.w.  for couples).  Tax loopholes for the wealthy will be closed.  There will be no tolerance for big tax evaders and jail sentences  for evasion.  Reduction in the rate of Corporation Tax must be accompanied  by anti-avoidance and clawback measures to ensure that the  overall tax contribution of the corporate sector is kept at a fair  level.  Incomes  Our tax and welfare systems must work together to guarantee  financial security and fairness. The National Anti-Poverty  Strategy initiated by Democratic Left in this government has  begun the war in poverty. Democratic Left in government will  insist that there is no let up in its implementation.  Our main policy objectives are:  A minimum wage for those at work.  An adequate minimum income for all citizens.  No tax on the first £100 p.w. of income.  Further harmonisation of the tax and welfare systems to make  them more work-friendly.  Improvement in both State and occupational pensions.  Phasing out the Health and Employment Levies (currently  2.25%).  Crime  Tackling crime and its causes must continue as atop priority.  There must be no let-up in the pursuit and conviction of  criminals. Equally, government must tackle the root causes of  crime.In government we would seek:  * Further modernisation and more accountability in the police  service at local level.  * Introduction of statutory Garda liaison committees in every  local authority area.  * Improved court efficiency to speed up the administration of  justice.  * Completion of the prison building programme.  * Investment in keeping first offenders out ofprison.  * Tackling violence against women through provision of more  refuges and an anti-violence educational programme in school  and prisons.  Drugs  Democratic Left has led the most sustained attack on drugs  ever, this year securing £34 million, plus the seized assets on the  drug barons to support communities with treatment, educational,  rehabilitation and preventive measures. The establishment of  local drugs task forces involving representatives on the  community and voluntary sectors has transformed this struggle.  We will continue to work effectively to drive drugs out of our  community.  Our policy priorities will involve :  Clamping down on the smugglers and organisers of the drug  trade.  Seizing the assets of drug barons through the Criminal Assets  Bureau.  Helping addicts as we would the victims of any serious health  epidemic.  Provision of sports and leisure facilities to turn young people  away from drugs.  Concentration on education, public information and harm  reduction strategies.  The Information Society  Information technology is creating new wealth, new growth,  new jobs and new opportunities. In Ireland we are creating a  thousand new jobs every week.Leaving it all simply to market  forces - the Right-wing approach - will result in impoverishment  for many. The Information Society - the European social market  approach of this Government - is the political alternative to the  opposition's politics of selfishness and greed.  We support :  * A major project for Irish schools to promote familiarisation  with the development of Information Technology.  * A computer for every 10 children in primary school.  * All schools and libraries to be connected free to the Internet.  The Food Industry  DEMOCRATIC LEFT believes that the State has a  responsibility to ensure that the food industry in all its  component parts delivers to the consumer safe nutritious and  quality food. This would be done by the creation of a statutory  quality assurance scheme. Registration with the scheme would  be a pre-condition to production, distribution or sale of food  products for human consumption. This is what is meant by an  integrated "Stable to Table" policy.  The cornerstone of such a scheme would be ISO standard  quality surveillance underpinned by independent certification  including, where appropriate, veterinary certification. This  would guarantee the confidence of both domestic and overseas  consumers in standards of Irish food production.  Our policy therefore would be :  * To transfer responsibility for the food industry to the  Department of Enterprise and Employment, but with an  independent veterinary and food inspectorate.  * The creation of a national Quality Assurance Scheme with a  legislative and mandatory basis for its key provisions and  additional voluntary codes of practice.  * Computerisation of the national herd.  * The establishment of a National Disease Surveillance Centre  for zoonoses and food born diseases.  Caring For All  Our society will be judged by how well we treat those who need  our care and support. Democratic Left will focus on children,  the  elderly, families with low incomes and people with disabilities.  We have shown the priority we attach to child care with  unprecedented increases in child benefit and would continue  Prionsias De Rossa's reforms benefiting mothers and children.  A caring society should eliminate any anxiety about being cared  for in old age or in childhood.  Similarly there should be a guarantee of adequate levels of care  for people with a mental or physical disability.  Therefore we propose :  * The introduction of a quality assurance scheme in the health  service, including the BTSB.  * A doubling of the income thresholds at which old age  pensioners qualify for a medical card and the same for children  under seven.  * Improved tax and welfare treatment for pensioners and carers.  * Guaranteed residential day or respite services for those with a  mental or physical disability.  * The introduction of a Carer's Benefit, based on PRSI  contributions.  * Child Benefit to be doubled over the next fiveyears.  * Department of Social Welfare to have responsibility for  development of a Child CARE PROGRAMME and for co-  ordinating the work of other Departments.  Education  No one should be illiterate in the information age. Each school  should contract with parents to guarantee functional literacy and  numeracy standards on leaving primary school, and should be  resourced to meet this commitment.  Our proposals include :  * Comprehensive pre-school provision with an initial "Early  Start" pre-school project for every primary school designated  disadvantaged.  * Phased introduction of grant assistance to PLC students.  * Equality of access to continuing education throughout adult  life.  * The Adult Literacy & Community Education budget to be  doubled.  * Classroom assistants for children with disabilities.  * Doubling the capitation grant to primary schools over five  years.  The Environment  Safe food, clean water, fresh air and clean streets ! The next  government must carry out an assessment of transport, farming,  waste, energy and industry to ensure that all economic activity  enhances rather than harms the environment. This is a matter  of improving the quality of citizen's lives as well as handing an  undamaged planet to future generations. We want to see the  application of ecological principles to all economic activity. Our  proposals include :  * Innovation and investment in public transport, including  access for people with disabilities.  * Proper enforcement of traffic rules and re-assessment of  parking policies.  * Revised planning procedures to protect the  public interest in balanced development.  * Continuation of efforts to close down Sellafield and end the  nuclear threat.  Housing and Planning  Housing  Housing is an essential human requirement. It frames our lives  and shapes our communities for good or ill. Our aim is to ensure  good quality, sustainable housing by maintaining social housing  at its current level of 7,000 housing starts each year. Overall, the  record level of house-building in Ireland far exceeds that of any  other European country. The ESRI estimates that 31,000 houses  are needed for the period 1996-2001. Projected figures indicate  we will build 35,000 in 1997. Greater emphasis must be put on  sustainability - building within cities and towns, reviewing  derelict areas and higher densities where required. Simple  rezoning outwards from Dublin is not an acceptable solution.  We would reduce the cost of housing by expanding the Social &  Co-operative Housing Programme, more high density  development close to public transport routes and a national  settlement strategy to reduce pressure on the Dublin area.  Housing and Planning  Housing  An appropriate range of measures to encourage and assist those  on local waiting lists to secure their own accommodation  including :  Improving affordability under the shared ownership scheme.  A system of "low start" mortgages involving an interest rate  subsidy. This could be an alternative to, or replace, the  mortgage allowance scheme.  SWA rent supplementation to enable persons in low paid  employment to obtain accommodation in the private rented  sector.  Housing and  Planning  Housing  A targeted Home Improvement Grant Scheme limited to  essential works replacement and insulation.  A White Paper on Housing Policy in the 21st Century.  Strict monitoring of lending agencies to ensure proper lending  practices.  A new programme to be completed within 10 years to ensure  that all local authority houses, that need it, are provided with  central heating, window replacement and insulation.  The extension of tenant participation in good estate  management as widely as possible.  A 56% tax on windfall profits from land re-zoning.  Housing and Planning  Planning  There should be a national Land Use Plan which would provide  a framework for balanced planning. Regional authorities would  draw up their guidelines in compliance with the national plan.  The preparation of County Development Plans to be reformed in  order to ensure:  -greater accountability,  -improved public access to information  -integration of Local Strategic Area Plans.  Young People  Tomorrow Matters  One of the marks of social progress is how each generation  creates a platform for the advancement of the next. We want  young people to know thattheir welfare is important and that  their needs will be addressed.  Throughout this Manifesto is a series of specific commitments  intended to ensure that young Irish people grow and prosper in a  society which is safe, caring and fair.  In addition we propose :  * Increasing places to Youthreach programme.  * Increasing social welfare payments for young people living at  home.  * Tax incentives to support the building of a 50 metre pool in  Dublin and the building of a national sports centre.  Peace and Responsibility  We want an Ireland at peace with itself and the rest of the world  with a sense of responsibility towards people less fortunate and  prosperous than ourselves. A greater contribution is needed  towards development aid for others. We want to see :  * Continued pressure for the development of "Social Europe".  * Disarmament and the peaceful resolution of international  conflict under United Nations mandates.  * Continued increase in allocation of resources to development  aid.  * Speedy resolution of our own long-running conflict in  Northern Ireland by insisting on an end to violence; promotion  of the development of inclusive, democratic policies and a  negotiated agreement based on consent.  * Continued non-membership of NATO and PFP.  Make the Future Work  These are intelligent, common sense policies. They are radical,  because they are designed to end, not just ease, our problems of  persistent poverty, environmental degradation, inequality and  injustice. DEMOCRATIC LEFT offers practical steps towards  a society in which problems are not bought off at great expense,  but solved, to the benefit of all.  Democratic Left Manifesto