Government formation: Micheal Martin to be Taoiseach until late 2027 as deal promises cut in childcare costs and new transport police

The draft programme for Government has now been published and includes plans for the formation of a new transport police, a cut in childcare costs to €200 per month per child and a new social welfare payment to support people with the cost of disability.

Mr Martin told RTÉ that he hoped to become Irish premier for the second time. He added: "I am absolutely committed to serving out the term because there is an agenda of change...".

The current Tánaiste described the draft programme for government as ambitious and denied that environmental issues would be less of a priority than in the previous government. He said: "The programme is as ambitious as the last programme was in respect of the need to address climate change and the challenges of biodiversity."

Independent TDs Sean Canney and Noel Grealish are set to attend Cabinet as junior ministers and Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae will serve at the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for forestry. Kevin 'Boxer' Moran and Marian Harkin will also receive junior ministries.

Read at Irish Independent