HOUSING Minister Simon Coveney's first-time buyers grant will be abandoned if a review finds it has inflated house prices, Leo Varadkar has said.

In his policy plan aimed at helping him secure the Fine Gael leadership, the Social Protection Minister also commits to a referendum on abortion in 2018 and significant reform of the Universal Social Charge.

He has also said that those who have paid their water bills will be refunded "this year".

His document 'Taking Ireland Forward' also outlines plans to "restore" free education by increasing the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by 50pc in two years.

Mr Varadkar wants to "substantially increase capital spending" about what is already planned in the 10 year National Development Plan.

The new capital plan will include long delayed projects like Dublin Metro, the M20 between Cork and Limerick, motorway access to the West and North-West and further investment in housing.

On public sector pay he said he supports an extension of the Lansdowne Road Agreement but the talks which get underway today must "secure public sector pensions on a more sustainable footing".

Addressing the media in Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin today Mr Varadkar repeated his mantra that Irish society cannot be split into "one group of people who pay for everything and another who want everything for free and think others should pay for it".

Tax cuts will also be part of his reign as Taoiseach, with marginal rates to be cut. He said nobody should be paying 50 cents on every €1 they earn.

In relation to first-time buyers, Mr Varadkar's document says that he is prepared to scrap the 'Help To Buy' introduced by his leadership rival Simon Coveney.

The document says: "The first time buyers' scheme will be phased out if the review finds it has had an inflationary effect on property prices.

"The money saved will be used to fund the construction of 'Housing with Care' for older people to incentivise retired people to move out of large homes."

A new pension system based on the controversial SSIA savings scheme is also among the key policies underpinning runaway leader Mr Varadkar's bid.

Priorities include a "new deal" for the self-employed which will see their tax credit and rates equalised with PAYE workers.

Expand Close Eoghan Murphy, Leo Varadkar and Maura Hopkins get ready to run the ‘Streets of Dublin’ 5km race. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins Dublin, Gareth Chaney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Eoghan Murphy, Leo Varadkar and Maura Hopkins get ready to run the ‘Streets of Dublin’ 5km race. Photo: Gareth Chaney

He also promises to extend “a form of Jobseekers Benefit” to the self-employed in the event they go out of business.

On pensions he wants to automatically enrol workers under 60 into a ‘MySaver’ personal pension savings account with contributions from employees and employers, and a bonus from the state similar to the SSIA.

There will be an opt-out for employees and an opt-in for the self-employed, homemakers, carers and others.

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Ahead of his policy launch, Mr Varadkar told business body IBEC he intends to be a pro-business and pro-enterprise Taoiseach.

"At the heart of a successful economy must be a strong enterprise sector whose success is built on innovation, exports, entrepreneurship and competitiveness. A prudent budgetary policy will be central to this approach," Mr Varadkar said.

"The private sector will be asked to play its part in forging a new social contract. We want good jobs, not just more jobs."“So we will improve the quality of employment by enhancing employment rights, pensions and pay.

"Employment, in particular quality, secure and well-paid employment, is the best way to achieve financial independence and prosperity for our citizens."

Mr Varadkar’s policy document is called ‘Taking Ireland Forward’.

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Among the promises are:

Income tax & talent

Reduce high marginal rates of income tax to beat competitors in attracting and retaining professional talent.

No one should pay more than 50c out of any euro they earn.

Tax equality for the self-employed.

Europe & Brexit

Keep Ireland at the heart of Europe, in the common European home we helped to build.

Capitalise on opportunities arising from Brexit in financial services, inward investment, trade and the relocation of European agencies.

Minimise the impact on trade and travel through a new Free Trade Agreement.

Build new alliances in Europe with like-minded countries.

Infrastructure

Substantially increase capital spending with a ten year National Development Plan.

Amend our National Debt target to 55% from 45% of GDP to allow greater capital investment.

Restore the golden rule in Europe which regards borrowing for capital investment as different to current spending

Mr Varadkar has refused to be drawn on whether he will re-appoint any of Simon Coveney's supporters to ministerial positions.

He also said he is not in a position to commit to a Cabinet that would have a 50/50 gender split.

At today's press launch he was repeatedly asked his personal position on abortion but said he has "an evolving view on this issue".

"I find it very difficult," he said, adding that while he would support a victim of rape who become pregnant seeking a termination, he does not back abortion on demand.

Fine Gael parliamentary party endorsements for leader

The Fine Gael parliamentary party makes up 65pc of the total electorate.

That makes each of the 73 members' votes worth 0.9pc of the total ballot.

Of the remaining electorate, 230 party councillors account for 10pc, while the remaining 25pc is rank and file members.

Leo Varadkar Simon Coveney Total: 45 Total: 19 Ministers: 17 Ministers: 5 TDs: 16 TDs: 5 Senators: 11 Senators: 8 MEPs: 1 MEPs: 1 Richard Bruton -Minister Simon Harris - Minister Frances Fitzgerald - Minister Damien English - Minister Michael Ring - Minister Dara Murphy - Minister Eoghan Murphy - Minister David Stanton - Minister Sean Kyne - Minister Marcella Corcoran Kennedy - Minister Joe McHugh - Minister Kate O'Connell - TD Helen McEntee - Minister Maria Bailey - TD Charlie Flanagan - Minister Sean Barrett TD Paul Kehoe -Minister Hildegard Naughton - TD Patrick O'Donovan - Minister Peter Fitzpatrick - TD Regina Doherty - Minister Tim Lombard - Senator Mary Mitchell O'Connor - Minister Jerry Buttimer - Senator Paschal Donohoe - Minister Paudie Coffey - Senator Heather Humphreys - Minister James Reilly - Senator Pat Breen - Minister Colm Burke - Senator Catherine Byrne - Minister John O'Mahony - Senator Andrew Doyle - Minister Paul Coghlan - Senator John Paul Phelan - TD Gabrielle McFadden - Senator Noel Rock - TD Deirdre Clune - MEP Tony McLoughlin - TD Alan Farrell - TD Michael D'Arcy - TD Tom Neville - TD Josepha Madigan - TD Pat Deering - TD Jim Daly - TD Brendan Griffin - TD Ciaran Cannon - TD Colm Brophy - TD Peter Burke - TD Fergus O'Dowd - TD John Deasy - TD Joe Carey - TD Neale Richmond - Senator Catherine Noone - Senator Paddy Burke - Senator Martin Conway - Senator Michelle Mulherin - Senator Maura Hopkins - Senator Ray Butler - Senator Frank Feighan - Senator Maria Byrne - Senator Joe O'Reilly - Senator Kieran O'Donnell - Senator Brian Hayes - MEP

Undeclared Enda Kenny - Outgoing Party Leader * Martin Heydon - Party Chairman * Michael Noonan - Minister Michael Creed - Minister Bernard Durkan - TD Sean Kelly - MEP Mairead McGuinness MEP

* Outgoing leader Enda Kenny and party chairman Martin Heydon will not make an endorsement

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