THE NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT.  ... TO ACHIEVEMENTS.  Programme for Progress.  ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT (1973 - 77).  FAMILY.  Family Law. ... and Children Act 1976 (Protection).  This Act has provided machinery for the enforcement of maintenance orders by attachment of earnings and for ... by the Court of a violent spouse from the family home, and established legal presumptions of joint ownership of household allowances.  Family Home Protection Act 1976. This Act has given protection against the vindictive sale of the family home or the removal of household goods, and facilitated spouses in placing the family home in their joint names.  SOCIAL WELFARE.  Pensionable age reduced from 70 to 66 from let October next Abolition of £1600 limit for social insurance of non-manual worker. Introduction of deserted wives' benefit, unmarried mothers' allowance, prisoners' wives allowance, allowance for single women over 58. Payment of Children’s' Allowance to mother and extension to children up to 18 if still at school or apprenticed or disabled.  Next October there will be a further increase in benefits. Means test eased, permitting £6 per week to be disregarded in the case of a single person or £12 in the case of a married couple - previously under Fianna Fail no earnings could be disregarded for means test purposes. Twice-yearly review of social benefits in April and October - previously undertaken by Fianna Fail once a year only. Payments of many benefits from six weeks after death of breadwinner. Introduction of 11 extra for Old Age Pensioners living alone. Tree Travel for Invalidity Pensioners. Trebling of Earnings Allowance for Blind Pensioners. Replacement of local Home Assistance Schemes by a National  Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme with effect from lst July.  EDUCATION.  Introduction of ...... Boards in Primary Schools. Capitation grants o assist with maintenance etc. of National Schools. Removal of Irish Language requirements for Leaving: Certificate. Establishment of Independent Examination Boards. Increase from 70% to 80% in Grants for Secondary School building. Increases in Grants for running of Secondary Schools, including increase from £30 to £66.50 in grants in lieu of tuition fees.  Management Boards being established in Vocational Schools. Decisions on new Universities for Cork, Galway, Maynooth and at UCD. Teaching Council for first and second level teachers being established.  LABOUR.  Legislation against Unfair Dismissals. Pay Discrimination on grounds of sex in relation to pay and conditions of work eliminated. Legislation providing for participation of workers on Board ...... seven State enterprises Protection of young people at work Protection of workers threatened with redundancy Establishment of Joint Labour Committee for Farm Workers Establishment of Women's Representative Committee Ninefold expansion of expenditure on training from £2 m in 1972/3 to £18m in 1977.  Establishment of Community Youth Training Programme on which £l.5m will be' spent this year. Employment Incentive Scheme designed to create employment for 11,000 people including school leavers - £20 a week premiums for additional workers and £10 for school leavers. Expansion of National Manpower Service - 50°% increase in placements. Quota system for employment of disabled persons in civil service 3% over 5-year period  POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS.  In four years £150m spent on system - more than in previous 70 years. The 1977 figure of £57m is 3 times more what Fianna Fail spent in their last year in office - 1972/73.  136,000 new subscribers connected And 400,000 miles of trunk circuits installed. The connection rate of 45,000 this year is almost double the figure of 25,000 when Fianna Fail left office. New international telephone and telex exchanges installed 175 telephone exchange projects completed. Colour television introduced. 500 home limit on cable television abolished, making possibly greatly improved service. Permission for experiments in local programmes on cable systems.  HEALTH.  Number of persons entitled for free care increased by almost 40% from 864,000 to 1,194,000. Employment in health services increased by 30% from 43,000 to 56,000.  Domiciliary care Allowance of £25 per month introduced for handicapped children living at home. Grants for ... children. Task force on Child Care Services established.  FINANCE. Taxation cut: Personal Tax rates reduced at all levels, including top rate from 80% to 60% and lowest from 35 to 20. Increases in personal tax free allowances Company tax rates cut by one-tenth, and halved for those who in 1977 and subsequent years expand output and employment. Stamp Duty on office buildings remitted. Abolition of Estate Duty Taxation of Capital Gains. ... and town gas subsidised by £63 m in addition to removal of VAT - The result price with VAT Present and without price subsidy  PUBLIC SERVICE.  Marriage Bar removed in Civil Service. Irish Language ... for public service entry removed except where language is essential to work to b a done. Ombudsman to be established on basis of all-party committee report. Oireachtas Committee on Semi State Bodies.  INDUSTRY.  Despite world crises, rate of industry, all grant job approvals during years of international boom increased by two-thirds from 50,000 in last four years of Fianna Fail to 83,000 in the years 1974 to 1977 inclusive years of international recession. Proportion of job approvals coming from domestic rather than foreign industry increased to 58% - the highest level ever. Advance factories currently under construction in 17 areas. 18 joint ventures between Irish and foreign interests promoted. Manufactured exports currently rising by 25%. £80m expansion and re-equipment programme for Irish Steel at Haulbowline. National Film Studio established at Ardmore - associated with eight major films last year. Replacement of Fianna Fail 20 years mining tax remission by new arrangements giving overall State 'take' of about two-thirds revenue. Negotiation of establishment of smelter with initial capacity of 100,000 tonnes of zinc per annum, to be operational by 1981. Natural gas to be brought ashore by March 1978 as feedstock for ammonia and urea plant and for electric power. Agreements for oil and gas exploration concluded giving the State through royalties, taxation and up to 50% State shareholding a share of about 80% of financial take from future developments. Priceline telephone information service established.  JUSTICE.  Garda Siochana increased from ... by end of this year with further 500 next year. Garda Siochana re-equipped with vehicles, radio communications and computer. 32 new Garda stations built and 23 others under construction Reform of Auctioneering Law to limit fees to vendor of property. Reform of Adoption Law to shorten period after birth before adoption, to eliminate ban on adoption by married couples of different religious affiliations. Reform of jury law putting women on equal basis with men. Introduction of law to deal with fugitive offenders who have committed acts of violence in Northern Ireland or Republic and are arrested here, and vice-versa. Establishment of Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. Introduction of Landlord and Tenant Bill to prohibit new ground rents and simplify purchase of existing ones. Establishment of Committee to study introduction of scheme of legal aid for civil matters.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT.  Trebling of expenditure on Sanitary Services from ... to £25 m. More than 100 000 houses completed in f our years - 54% up on Fianna Fait's last four years. 28,372 local authority houses completed in four years - 45% up on Fianna Fail's 19,471 in their last four years. Fianna Fail's low standard housing policies ended. All local authority houses now being built are of at least as high a standard as good private houses. New and fairer Differential Rents scheme introduced. Low-rise mortgage scheme introduced last November. Scheme of structural guarantees introduced for new private houses New and fairer Tenant Purchase Scheme introduced. The removal of all housing and health charges from the rates and the provision of a 25% reduction on all domestic rates has reduced the average rate in the ... for domestic ratepayers in 1977 by some £8.80 below what it would otherwise have been. Apart from this reduction, ratepayers ... for the cost of compensation for malicious damage has been substantially met by a State grant - £2.45 million in 1977. An additional £2 million State grant has been made available for  the relief of rates in necessitous cases. Practical steps have been taken to strengthen local democracy including votes for 18 year olds and reduction of the minimum age for membership of local authorities to 18 years. Enforcement of planning law strengthened and independent. Planning Appeals Board established. Water Pollution Act passed which will secure more effective control of water pollution. A Water Pollution Advisory Council established. Plans and subsidies provided to cope with oil pollution. AGRICULTURE.  (1) Family Farm Income up from £276m in 1972 to £536m in 1978 and     expected £720m for this year.  (2) Very vigorous representation of Irish, interest in negotiations in     Brussels brought the gain to the Irish economy from participation in     CAP in 1976 alone to £250 m. Agricultural Prices increased by 1100     over the past four years, but subsidised to the extend of ... m to     keep prices from increasing to consumers. Price of creamery milk     increased threefold from 16p per gallon in 1972 to almost 48p in     present year and price of liquid milk up correspondingly.  (3) Creation of the National Agricultural Authority which will integrate     all agencies supplying agricultural advice research and education     into a more effective service for the farmer.  (4) Introduction of Farm Modernisation Scheme, with higher grants for     farmers in all categories, especially for small farmers. Over 60,000     farmers now participating in the Scheme.  (5) New scheme of aids introduced for farmers in western counties under     the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.  (6) Better education facilities for young farmers with more ....  (7) The better opportunities for farmers and their families has     virtually ended the flight from the land.  (8) Renewed prosperity and confidence of farmers throughout the country.  ................  TOURISM.  Decline in tourism under last four years of Fianna Fail reversed. Bord Failte's marketing budget increased from £2.7 m to £65 m. Total tourism revenue up from £91 m in 1972 to  estimated £220 m this year.  FOREIGN AFFAIRS.  Successful transition affected to EEC membership leading to net inflow of £500 mn. from BBC in first four years of membership. Irish Presidency of EEC Council of Ministers in first half of 1975 generally rated most successful since enlargement. Resident embassies established in nine new countries with which Ireland has important trade or other links.  Visits effected by Minister for Foreign Affairs to almost thirty countries promoting knowledge and understanding of Ireland and of the Northern Ireland problem, and helping to generate new markets.  PROGRAMME FOR PROGRESS.  INTRODUCTION.  Ireland is emerging from four difficult years of crisis, with its democratic institutions intact d its economy poised for expansion. The tragedy of the North has cast its shadow in many ways over life in the Republics The worst world depression since the thirties combining high inflation and unemployment halted economic growth. Despite the coincidence of these two crises, the latter of which was foresee by nobody when the National Coalition's Statement of Intent was published in February 1973 the Irish people have weathered the storm under the leadership of the National, Coalition Government.  But an immense new challenge lies ahead. The next Government will not only have to cope with the continuing problems arising from the Northern tragedy and to steer the economy towards rapid growth in the context of general international recovery it will also have to deal with a rapidly expanding population. For the first time in a century emigration has not only been halted but reversed A record number of young people will be seeking employment in Ireland during the next Government's term of office. This will require new economic policies capable of providing employment far in excess of that achieved during the sixties at a time of boom in the world economy. Our future will be wholly unlike the past and will be dominated by an increasingly youthful population, fifty per cent of whom are under the age of twenty-five. This will demand fresh dynamism new institutions and progressive policies. Fine Gael and the Labour Party believe that together in Government they can provide both the dynamism and the policies and at the same time contribute to a peaceful solution for the Northern problems. The National Coalition, working as a united team has proven during the last four years that it can provide stable, firm and fair Government, capable of weathering a crisis accordingly, Fine Gael and the Labour Party have agreed to contest the next General Election on the basis of this joint Programme for Progress. This Programme is based on the Government Parties' awareness of the continuing problems posed by the international economic situation and their appreciation of the resources at present and likely to be available for economic and social development It does not pretend that there are any soft options in solving the nation's problems because there are none it. The National Coalition Parties ask for a renewal of their mandate do that they may be strengthened by the people's support in implementing this Programme for Progress, therefore will not injure the national interest by irresponsible promises  ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PLANNING.  The world economic crisis, started off by the fourfold increase in oil prices in late 1973, affected the Irish economy as it did all the other economies in the industrialised world by greatly increased prices and unemployment. But because of the National Coalition Government's policies designed to minimise the impact of the international recession, the Irish economy is in a strong position. A recent EEC survey shows business confidence and order books are higher here than in any other EEC country. The volume of industrial output rose by 11% last year and the volume of exports is now rising by 25%. Almost alone amongst developed countries our output now stands significantly above the pre-crisis peak, and unemployment has fallen during the past year. Farm incomes this year are estimated to rise by at least ... above last year's level. These are the facts which cannot be contested now. But an immense task lies ahead in terms of employment, unemployment caused by the world crisis and the previous Government's lack of preparation for EEC free trade, has to be eliminated. The record number of young people seeking employment for the first time will have to be provided with work. Only a planned approach involving the mobilisation of savings on a far greater scale than in the past land the investment of these savings in productive employment-creating activities can secure full employment. It cannot be done by doubling the current budget deficit aid increasing borrowing massively as the Opposition have irresponsibly proposed Full employment will be achieved only if it is seen to be the overriding national priority and if the policies to attain it are based on national .... In consultation with the social partners through the National Economic and Social Council proposals] are being prepared for balanced but rapid economic and social development on the basis of the Government's document "Economic and Social Development.' Because of the scale of the ... in the population - which has risen dramatically by 150,000 in the past four years' and the structural and other problems which have been created by the recession and EEC free trade, this plan will necessarily be different from previous planning exercises in this country. It must provide a rate f growth not previously experienced in Ireland I as well as dealing with a number of major social issues arising from the impact of the population increases upon education, housing, health and social policies. The details will include in particular as a crucial feature institutional arrangements for a clearly defined and understood planning function which .... Identify for the Government any policy deviations from its objectives and .... Monitor the progress of the plan, external factors having an impact on its achievements control and adjustment. ...... with a view to their ... planning mechanism will also provide the frame work within which investment decisions, leading to more employment, can be taken with greater certainty and knowledge. It will ensure for the future greater co-ordination between public policy and the requirements of the private sector, especially in manufacturing industry and agriculture.  ....  This Plan is to be successful it needs the full support on a national basis of all sections and interests and the Government will endeavour to secure this support by the broadest possible range of consultation of vast importance, especially for the future of our young people  INDUSTRIAL POLICY. ECONOMIC POLICY.  The expansion of the manufacturing industry must be at the heart of our development policies if we are to achieve full employment policy will therefore be an integral part of the Plan. Industrial ...... The Government has already stimulated economic growth by the following taxation measures: Reduction of personal income tax at all levels from 35 to 20% ... at the lowest, land from 80% to 60% at the highest. Reduction of all company taxation by one tenth and in the case of manufacturing firms which increase output and employment by one half. The National Coalition will continue this policy of low personal and company taxation IQ give individuals encouragement and the private sector  the greatest stimulus for growth.  .... The Stock relief introduced by the Government is maintained to prevent inflation holding back industrial progress. The Government will also introduce new measures to stimulate savings which are the essential foundation for investment in growth and employment. Towards this end it will establish a National Development ... drawing on the support of Irish people at home and abroad to mobilise new resources for productive investment in projects of national importance Moreover, the National Coalition will provide financial assistance equivalent in scale to IDA grants, so as to encourage partnership between Irish and foreign firms The National Coalition will thus enable Irish firms to attract dynamic foreign partners in joint enterprises. The 1975 Budget will be .... In consultation with social partners the Government will also plan to maximise the amount of resources available for employment creation and to secure continued industrial competitiveness. As a central part of its industrial policy the Government will expand the provision of new jobs through the work of the Industrial Development Authority which this year will be approving grants in respect of 23,000 jobs – 40% more than two  years ago. The Government will establish for the purpose of further expanding the  manufacturing sector ...... having the following functions. To make proposals for new economic enterprises which will not compete ... unfair ... with the private sector. These projects might be undertaken either ... State agencies by new entities in the public sector, by joint ventures between the public and private sectors by private firms or by the body itself or any of it subsidiaries that may be established by its .... To preserve, promote and expand Irish controlled enterprises, we exercise a co-ordinating role over the activities of existing .... The personnel of industrial this bodies and National Development companies in the public stimulating sector with a view to stimulating enterprise and removing restrictions on their activities. Corporation will be drawn from the different sectors of Irish economic activity takes full account of the need to promote a sound environment for enterprises and to maintain competitiveness. Its staff will consist of people of ability or experience in industry and commerce both private an public .... The Government will reactivate Mianrai Teo to undertake directly on behalf of the State exploration and development of mineral resources joint ventures with the private sectors where appropriate participation in the ...... and, in the event of gas and oil finds, organisation ... of the State's participation in exploration and development of these natural resources. Its activities will complement the private sector. Special measures are necessary to develop the economy of our Western regions The National Coalition Government re-affirms its commitment to the establishment of a Western Development Board with wide-ranging functions to mobilise the energies of those who live in this area for its development planning of this Board is well advanced. While the main brunt of employment creation must be borne by private and public enterprise, the scale of this problem, especially affects young people means that in the period immediately ahead these efforts will have to be supplemented by special employment creation measures directed particularly but not exclusively towards young people. The National Manpower Service and the National training authority, ... are both concerned with different aspects of this problem but they are not at present geared to direct employment creation. A National Manpower activities financed by the State largely out of monies that will be saved by diverting unemployed young people into productive work using the sums now expended in Unemployment Benefit and Unemployment Assistance purpose and partly from increased Government revenue. Authority will utilise their skills to establish employment-creating. To provide the necessary back to all these employment-generating activities the National Coalition will ensure the required investment in infrastructure- e.g., roads, water and electricity supplies, telephones, for this housing, schools and hospitals.  AGRICULTURAL POLICY.  The agricultural sector is a potential source of dynamic growth. The benefits negotiated in Brussels by the Government have transformed the market opportunities for Irish producers and processors. Irish farmers now have free access to a market of 260 million people at remunerative prices no longer determined by British cheap food policies. This will give them for the first time, the opportunity and the means to invest in the development of their farms on a scale that will realise their full potential. The experience of recent years has shown that a ...% growth rate in agricultural output is a realistic target. The development of Irish agriculture's full potential will be undertaken by  farmers themselves in response to the really profitable opportunities have been created by the Government. The National Coalition will ensure the availability of capital for investment by farmers through the expanded ... efforts now being made by the banks and the Agricultural Credit Corporation, that in response to the Government's incentives for a greater financial commitment to agricultural expansion. A priority aim of the Government will be to achieve the target for greater growth and development of agriculture. To this end it will continue to ensure that adequate incentives and services are provided for farmers. These will include: accelerated disease eradication, remunerative prices, secure markets, ... processing and marketing, increased emphasis on land reclamation and improvements, ... drainage, letter agricultural advice, research and education will be provided through the new National Agricultural Authority. This Authority will enable all the agencies supplying these services to co-operate effectively as a team in the best interests of the farmer. In the EEC, the Government will continue to seek the best deal for Irish agriculture. Particular attention is at present being given to securing ... in structural .... These include the extension to smaller farmers of the range and level of grants already available to development farmers. In the light of a Report about to be submitted to the Government the work of the Land Commission will be reviewed so that it may contribute to the expansion of agriculture by ensuring that available land now totalling 80,000 acres in the possession of the Land Commission comes into the hands of genuine farmers with a record of high performance. This land will be released at an annual rate of 40,000 acres Particular regard will be had to the needs of young people entering farming through an expanded Farm Apprenticeship Scheme. The Government has already initiated action to update our whole land policy The Land Commission has been integrated into the Department of Agriculture and will be brought into a development role. Farmers can look forward to a more dynamic and practical approach to land use policy are determined to make rapid progress in this important sector. The National Coalition Government will continue to work for the advancement of agriculture in close harmony with organisations of producers and other .... The Government present high level of confidence among farmers and their families '  interests concerned. They are acutely aware of the need to maintain the ....  FISHERIES POLICY.  The National Coalition will build on what has already been achieved in the process of re-negotiating the EEC Common Fisheries Policy - recognition of the Irish need for special treatment vis-a-vis other member States and of the obligations on the Community so as to apply the re-negotiated Common. Fisheries Policy as ... secure the rapid expansion of the industry in different periods of the herring fisheries to the south and north-west accordance with the Irish Fisheries Development Plant the closure of the unilateral conservation measures and the exclusion of Eastern European trawlers from waters within 50 miles of our coast. The Government will complete this process by negotiating a coastal band of up to 50 miles around our shores. It will undertake the increased investment necessary in boats, harbours and shore facilities to ensure adequate catching and processing facilities for the rapidly expanding fish catch that will be secured as a result of the re-negotiation.  CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.  The expansion of the construction industry, a vitally important source of employment, is closely linked to that of the economy as a whole of .... The Government has a vital role to play in maintaining and expanding construction activity in sectors such as factory-building , school-building, housing and sanitary and environmental services and School building activities are currently being stepped up as a result of a major increase in State investment and this high level of school-building will be maintained; as will the housing programme and, as a result of the industrial expansion programme and the work of the IDA factory-building. The international recession started by the oil crisis at the end of 1973 completely altered world conditions in respect of both inflation and unemployment increasing more than five-fold the rise in import prices which hits hardest a small country such as Ireland that imports half its needs To meet this problem the Government is subsidising foodstuffs to the extent of £63m.1 The Government has also reduced rates by one-quarter and is subsidising public transport by £36m. Moreover, the VAT imposed by Fianna Fail has been removed from foodstuffs, electricity and a wide variety of goods As a result of these measures consumer prices have risen at a rate one-third below the increase in import-prices I- whereas in Fianna Fail's last year in office, when inflation was not being controlled, consumer prices rose almost half as fast again as import prices  Comparison of Present Prices With What Prices Would Have .... Without Subsidies And With Fianna Fail VAT on Food. Simultaneously, the Government has cut personal taxation as part of an overall package to maintain competitiveness Present policies indicate that our rate of inflation will this year drop to about ... and ... year to a single figure. The maintenance of the Government's policies will ensure that inflation will continue to fall investment, growth and increased employment removing gradually a major obstacle to ...  Part Three.  SOCIAL POLICY  Introduction. The main emphasis of Government policy in the years ahead must be on economic growth and viable employment creation. In employment creation there is an identity of economic and social interest It must be recognised that the provision of jobs is the first social service and an essential element of that social stability requisite for rapid and enduring economic growth But other elements of social reform will remain a high priority with the National Coalition. Building on the achievements of its first period in office it will undertake a wide range of further reforms in a second term to the extent made possible by the economic growth achieved.  SOCIAL WELFARE.  The Government will continue to protect the real value of all social welfare payments and will maintain the striking progress which it has made in improving and modernising the Social Welfare system After consultation with the interests involved the National Coalition will during its second period in office:  - introduce a National Pension Scheme which will make provision for benefits directly relate-16 income and which will ensure the transferability and Leg protection of pension rights.  - amend the Social Insurance Scheme to remove the inequities of the flat-rate contribution, system This will particularly benefit lower-paid workers and labour-intensive industries and amount to a further encouragement to employment.  - extend the Social Welfare system to enable self-employed persons to obtain appropriate social insurance coverage At present the self-employed, who represent more than a quarter of the work-force, are excluded from social insurance. A Personal Social Services Bill will be introduced by the Minister for Health.  HOUSING.  In honouring its commitment prior to the last General Election, the National Coalition has during its first four years in office built 100,000 new houses half as many again as the 66,000 built in the last four years of the previous. The aim will be to build 7,500 dwellings to meet the needs of persons on local authority waiting lists either by building for renting or through the operation of the Low Rise Mortgage Scheme. New emphasis will be placed in the Local Authority house-building programme to meet the needs of special categories of homeless such as elderly persons and families with disabled members. A further stimulus to housing output co-operative housing groups will be encouraged, particularly through the Low Rise Mortgage Scheme and by systems of loan guarantees and subsidies. This dynamic programme of 25,000 new houses yearly will be maintained. To redress inequities, capital for Local Authority housing will be channelled to areas where the need is most acute The policy of reviving residential run-down areas will be continued as part of its programme. Accordingly, consideration will be given to increasing the rate of reconstruction grants. The scheme itself will be improved to encourage works of rehabilitation and conservation.  HEALTH SERVICES.  The Government will continue to give a high priority to improving our health services, The National Hospital Development Programme will be implemented vigorously land community health services will continue to be expanded. In addition:  -   high priority will be given to developing services for the mentally     ill. White Paper on Psychiatric Services will be published by the     end of this year and will provide the framework for action. In     addition the Mental Treatment Acts 1945-61 will be amended to bring     them into line with modern psychiatric practice and methods.  -   Free health care will be extended to certain categories of persons     who are not now entitled to medical cards although their position     combines high health costs with low disposable income. This new     scheme will benefit the chronically ill and disabled in particular.     In addition the discretionary power of the Health Boards to assist     people with health costs disproportion ... to their income will be     extended particularly benefiting children and old people drug costs     who a present have to wait for a long period for a refund of these     payments. Arrangements will also be made to assist people with heavy     ....  During its term of office, the National Coalition provided an additional number of places in its next term of office, with particular emphasis on 1,014 residential places and 1,535 day-care places for the mentally handicapped who receive in such places the benefits of occupational therapy and psychological support. The Government will provide an increased ... meeting the needs of mentally handicapped adults, not less than has been  provided in its first period of office and residential places are already in course of planning. Of these, approximately 1,000 day employment training facilities have been expanded to provide approximately 500 additional places for the handicapped since the Government took office. This radical programme to provide employment opportunities for our handicapped people will be vigorously pursued and further developed.  EDUCATION PR IARY SCHOOLS.  Existing primary schools in many areas are still below acceptable standards in heating and sanitation - these schools must have first priority The recently announced increase ...... grants should mean that Management Boards are now in a position to provide proper maintenance for their schools It is the intention of the National Coalition Government to see that when necessary further increases should take place in these grants. A particular cause for concern is the high pupil-teacher ratio, particularly in urban areas. It is the intention off the National Coalition Government to reduce the size of overall classes to a more reasonable level. The Government has decided that the aural ... of small schools should not be enforced.  SECONDARY SCHOOLS.  ... in recognition .... The Government recently increased the tuition grant by 33% of the difficulties faced by many secondary schools This decision should help to maintain them at a reasonable standard and indicates the Government's intention to see that these schools axe treated fairly in recognition of their valuable contribution to education in Ireland over many years. Without the services of the religious teaching orders, now and in the past, it would not have been possible to reach the standard which places Ireland on a par with the best to be found amongst our European neighbours.  VOCATIONAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EUCATION.  Community and Comprehensive Schools are the answer to the problem of new developing areas in enabling a wide range of subjects to be provided in a single school and making it possible to meet the needs of children of a wide range of aptitudes and abilities from a very wide spectrum of the population. A feature of their organisation is the degree of flexibility which enables attention to be given to both technical and academic subjects. The Board of Management of these schools reflects the close connection of the school with the local community as it has representation of the parents, the religious authorities and of the Vocational Education Committee amongst its members.  THIRD LEVEL EDUCATION.  The legislation ... the re-organisation of third level education is at an advanced stage ... will establish the relationship that should exist between universities and other institutions of higher education, and the balance that should exist between academic and professional studies. While maintaining the importance of learning and research for its own sake, and while preserving academic freedom as a fundamental value, it will be an overall aim of the Government to correct by its policy any historical bias in our educational system against the teaching of those technical skills required by students leaving any educational establishment to enable them to take up the jobs generated by economic growth in the agricultural, industrial or services sector.  Part Four.  Social reform encompasses many areas outside of those traditionally associated with Social Policy. They include many policy matters affecting the quality of ....  SOCIAL REFORM.  Coalition's Programme includes a number of such matters at such an advanced  family life and the enjoyment of individual human rights. The National  stage of consideration that they are capable of early implementation. The Government has already given an earnest of its intention in a number of law Reform measures enacted, including the establishment of a separate Office of The Director of Public ... and the Law Reform Commission.  OMBUDSMAN.  Having considered the detailed recommendations of the All Parties Informal Committee on Administrative Justice the Government will establish the office of Ombudsmen, who will be empowered to accept complaints from members of the public about administrative actions affecting individuals. The Family and Children .... The National Coalition Government will introduce during its period of office legislation instituting Family Courts as part of our legal system. Simultaneously with the introduction of Family Courts the National Coalition will introduce a state-subsidised legal aid system for those having recourse to these Courts as a first step towards a wider system of legal aid in other civil cases, which expanded national resources will alone make possible. Women:  To complete the process of removing discrimination against women equal pay including the marriage differential will be brought into elimination of the effect in two stages ... retrospectively from 1st January last and the Unemployment assistance will be available to girls entering the employment market on the same basis as me. Moreover,  discrimination a against married women in the conditions for ... second during 1978. Disability Benefit and Unemployment Benefit will be ended. Child Care and Personal Social Services. The National Coalition will introduce a new Children's Bill on which work is far advanced. The Bill will raise the age of criminal responsibility and will reform the system of Children's Courts, integrated under the Minister for Health. Child care services will be .... As a fundamental principle the Children's Bill will provide that in all cases of dispute over custody of a child, the interests of the child will be paramount. The Government reaffirms its commitment to a Constitutional Amendment to deal with adoption. As a further indication of the Government's commitment to the development of personal social services funds will be made available to increase the range of services available to families in need. ... trained Home Helps will be employed on a full-time basis, as part of social work teams, to assist families uncle stress. In addition, funds will be made available, in consultation with the Irish Pre-School Playgroup Association, ....  Community Pre-school Playgroup organisers and to stimulate the development of playgroups in association with our social work services. The Government intends to give a high priority in the future to developing within our Health Boards foster care services for disturbed children as an alternative to residential care. To this end, as a pilot scheme, special teams of social workers will be employed in Dublin and Cork to undertake the fostering of difficult children. In view of the Government's commitment to developing personal social services senior social work advisers will be appointed to Health Boards and the Department of Health.  YOUTH POLICIES.  The age of majority will be reduced from 21 to 18. The Government has decided to implement a comprehensive policy for youth and sport. This recently published widely welcomed document is the first such policy in the history of the State. The following specific measures will be undertaken. Appointment of an independent Sports Council to co-ordinate all Government work for sports and recreation, to provide administrative  back-up to voluntary sports bodies and to undertake research and provide information on sport and recreation. Make available money to each Vocational Education Committee to develop its own scheme of aid youth and sports activity based on the special needs of each area. Provide through the ports Council a scheme of interest-subsidies on capital for improvements to existing sports facilities and for the provision of new facilities. Set up an in-service training scheme for full-time youth workers and promote the educational role of youth work through expert back-up to voluntary youth leaders. Appoint organisers help establish clubs for youth and sport in .... As part of its general programme the Government is also helping to provide Ireland's first tartan athletic track and is assisting the Irish Olympic Council to an increased extent in preparing our athletes for international areas where these are seriously lacking. ....  CONSUMER PROTECTION.  Consumer Protection, another social priority. In addition to the Consumer Information Act already brought into effect by the National Coalition Government further range of consumer protection measures will be undertaken through a Bill recently introduced in the Daily rates. The process of removing rates from domestic dwellings begun by the National Coalition Government through the removal of housing and health charged from the rates and through a reduction of 25% in domestic rates this year, will be completed. The amount payable will be reduced by three-quarters in 1978 d will thereafter be completely remitted. Rates will also be removed from schools and community halls.  LAW AND ORDER.  The National Coalition Government whose record in the maintenance of law and order is recognised will, in the light of the quality of recruits offering, increase Garda recruitment by 1,000 instead of the 500 hitherto planned. The scale ...... in urban areas substantially strengthened as a result. Moreover, a further Constitutional Amendment will be proposed to deal with abuses of bail under the present system will be very ....  Part Five.  NORTHERN IRELAND.  The National Coalition Government will continue to seek a political solution to the Northern Ireland problem through the establishment of a ...-sharing government in Northern Ireland, with which it will co-operate closely in relation to the economic and social development of the island and security. Towards this end it will deal firmly with any threat ... of the existence of Northern Ireland until and unless a majority of the people of Northern Ireland freely accept a new relationship with the violence .... The Government maintains its pledge that it accepts the fact ... Republic. It will moreover maintain its policy of establishing close working relations with political leaders of both sections of the community in Northern Ireland.