OPINION: New Government will have a real opportunity to make Ireland a better place

TALKS to form a new Government resumed in earnest on Monday last with the aim of having a new Taoiseach elected and a new administration formed when the Dail resumes later this month.

The outgoing coalition of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael received the support of voters wary of change in last year's General Election but they need the support of Independent Dail Deputies or other parties to form a workable administration.

The new Government will take office at a time when Ireland is in an enviable position compared to most of our European counterparts, most notably Britain, France and Germany.

The new coalition will literally be rolling in the lolly in comparison to these big three European beasts.

On Monday we learned that Government tax receipts surged almost 23 per cent to a record €108 billion last year. The year-end exchequer returns showed total corporation tax receipts soared 64 per cent to €39.1 billion in 2024.

This was driven by almost €11 billion flowing into the State coffers from Apple, covering most of the money owed as a result of a high-profile European court ruling last September.

The Apple money transferred was almost €3 billion higher than what the Government projected when it unveiled its budget in October. Stripping this out, underlying corporate tax rose 18 per cent to about €28.1 million. While much of this was unlikely be paid every year, it came in some €1.4 billion below forecast.

Income tax, traditionally by far the biggest earner for the exchequer, rose by 6.6 per cent last year to €35.1 billion, coming in broadly in line with official forecasts. VAT receipts rose 7.3 per cent last year to €21.8 billion, while excise duties advanced 11.8 per cent to €6.28 billion and other taxes edged 6.9 per cent higher to €5.78 billion.

With such overflowing coffers the new Government will be in a position which no administration in the history of the State since independence has been.

The two big traditional parties now have a real opportunity to create a new and better Ireland – an Ireland which works for all its citizens.

But to achieve such a goal our political leaders will need vision.

Currently many of the problems we face – in particular housing – are caused by our economic success. Remember it's not that long ago when thousands of houses lay empty across a country riddled with ghost estates in the Great Recession following the collapse of the so-called Celtic Tiger.

But the new administration, if it implements the correct policies, has a real opportunity to tackle and solve the housing crisis. It has the cash it just now needs the plan and the vision.

Despite our status as one of the world's wealthiest counties Ireland still lags behind in the provision of public services.

The term of the next administration is the time to tackle this deficit. Plans to develop a national health service, Sláintecare, must be speeded up to ensure all citizens receive equal treatment.

An affordable childcare system must also be put in place to ensure parents are not overburdened with high costs often greater than their mortgages payments.

The infrastructure deficit must also be tackled. In Offaly surely it is now time to progress with the construction of the new N52 link road in Durrow.

On a national level roads need to upgraded throughout the country particularly in areas which have not benefitted to the full extent from recent economic growth.

Some strides were made in the provision of public transport during the last Government and the Green Party deserves much credit for these. Every county now boasts a superb bus service linking rural areas to urban centres, an initiative which would probably have not reached fruition were it not for the much-maligned Greens.

But further progress must be made in the area of public transport. The rural bus initiative must be expanded.

Certainly it is high time that a proper rail link be developed between Dublin Airport and the city centre, be it a metro system or some other link.

Hopefully a new Government will be formed later this month and we hope it will have the courage and vision to take steps to transform Ireland and create a better place for all its citizens.