UNSIGNED PREVIEW — not a promoted public release.
Actor: Irish Government
insufficient_evidenceTopic: health
Office: Department of Health
Evidence: 12 events
Sources: 12
This promise by Irish Government has INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE for a rating. Only 12 evidence events were found. More research is needed before a reliable assessment can be made.
This promise is SPECIFIC (vagueness score: 20/100). It includes measurable targets or deadlines that make it trackable. Specific promises are easier to verify as kept or broken.
Issue category: healthcare
GP visit card eligibility was expanded to those earning no more than the median household income (approximately €47,000 after deductions), making an estimated 500,000+ additional people eligible.
The revised EPBD (Directive 2024/1275) entered into force on 28 May 2024. Ireland must transpose it into national legislation by 29 May 2026. Government departments and SEAI are actively working on transposition plans as of 2025.
The Programme for Government agreed between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in January 2025 included a commitment to create a Transport Security Force that would operate in a similar manner and have similar powers to both Airport Police and customs officers.
BBC reported that Micheál Martin and Simon Harris confirmed a draft Programme for Government that includes a new public transport security force, among other policy priorities.
The Irish Green Building Council published a factsheet series in February 2025 on the transposition of the EPBD into Irish law, advising industry stakeholders to prepare.
In an Oireachtas debate on 14 October 2025, it was confirmed that the EPBD requires transposition by 29 May 2026 and that significant work is being undertaken across Government to meet this deadline.
Transport workers criticised the planned Transport Security Force as 'toothless,' arguing it would fail to stop the epidemic of antisocial behaviour on buses and trains. Concerns were raised about whether the force's powers would be sufficient.
Legislation to establish the Transport Security Force is expected to be progressed during 2026, according to Minister Darragh O'Brien. The force would operate across public transport networks as authorised officers under the National Transport Authority.
The Waiting Time Action Plan 2026 has been published by the Minister for Health, as part of the Sláintecare programme of action plans.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fáil) announced that members of the planned new public transport security service will be given powers of arrest and pursuit. The force is envisaged to operate similarly to Airport Police and customs officers.
The government's Sláintecare publications page states further Action Plans will be published in 2026 and 2027 setting out more detailed milestones and actions. The Sláintecare Action Plan 2026 and the 2025 Progress Report were at an 'advanced stage of development' as of March 2026.
Publish further Sláintecare Action Plans in 2026 and 2027 setting out detailed milestones and actions
A simplified Building Energy Rating (BER) for residential properties will be introduced from 24 May 2026, in line with a standardised EU approach under the EPBD.