Updated government roadmap gets Tynwald backing

The 2024-25 document has six renewed government priorities

An updated government roadmap outlining six strategic priorities for the next 12 months has been backed by Manx politicians.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan outlined the redefined focuses for the island for 2024-25 during a two-hour debate in Tynwald.

Key areas discussed included financial discipline, economic development, and residency, migration and security.

The revised Island Plan document also focused on more homes being occupied, energy security, and travel connectivity.

Mr Cannan said the plan was "dedicated to making our island a better place".

He said there was an "absolute requirement for financial discipline to be enforced across government and for departments to operate to budget".

He also said there were would be a continued focus on housing, highlighting the Island Infrastructure Scheme, which has been designed to promote the redevelopment of brownfield sites.

The Department for Enterprise had supported 18 planning applications that had "the potential for over 800 homes and 300 new jobs", he told politicians.

'Core fundamentals'

Mr Cannan also said "better travel connectivity" was "essential" and problems with our air and sea connections could "have a marked effect on a small nation".

While the plan was approved by the majority of Tynwald members, six MHKs voted against it.

The future of social care was earmarked as a concern by Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas, who said the issue "frightens me".

Onchan member Julie Edge argued there was not enough focus on children and education within the plan, and income tax rises announced in the Manx budget would hit middle earners the hardest.

And Douglas South MHK Claire Christian said those tax changes went against industry advice and would be damaging to small business owners and staff.

But Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said many issues perceived to be lacking in the plan were ongoing as "business as usual".

She outlined areas in which her own department had progressed, noting the implementation of the domestic abuse act, which "has had an impact".

Work had also begun on developing a dedicated sexual assault referral centre, she said.

Responding to criticism of the updated plan, Mr Cannan said the government had "made progress on many of the core fundamentals that matter to our island residents" in 2023.

The update aimed to "reflect the challenges we face today providing the focus that is needed to make this island a better place", he added.