Labour to abolish USC for low and middle income earners

Labour will establish a new savings scheme to help first time buyers purchase a home if re-elected to Government.

The party launched its manifesto on Monday committing to abolishing the Universal Social Charge for all low and middle income earners.

It also promises to negotiate a new public sector pay deal in 2018 in advance of the end of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and will increase the pension to €260.

There are also measures to introduce a register for childminders to allow for inspection, increased child benefit payments and for universal free GP care by 2021.

Under the Labour proposals for every € 4 a first time buyer saves the Government will provide a top-up of € 1.

This is subject to a cap of € 1,200 a year for every five years.

This would a buyer could receive a maximum of € 6,000 over five years saving.

The party’s manifesto commits to a referendum on repealing the eighth amendment of the Constitution.

It also vows to introduce mandatory training on sexual violence for all trainee gardaí and recruit an additional 700 gardaí a year to bring the strength of the force to 14,500.

The manifesto commits to the formal recognition of the travelling community.

A Constitutional Convention will also be re-established to examine end of life issues and the place of faith in the Constitution including the requirement of religious declarations by office holders.

Tánaiste Joan Burton said Labour in Government ended the economic crisis.

However she insisted there was much more work to be done.

Ms Burton said: "We cannot take this opportunity for granted. There are parties who have been reckless with the country's finances in the past and parties who would be reckless with them if in Government.

“Those parties would return us to crisis. Labour will not allow that to happen.”