An increase in State spending on childcare, higher education and eldercare is needed as we emerge from the pandemic, a new report commissioned by public service trade union, Fórsa, has said.
Ireland’s State spending is just 40 per cent of the national income, making it the eighth lowest in the EU, and below the EU average of 46.5 per cent, according to the report. It also recommended a €1.5 billion increase in funding for the early years sector, to bring total funding to one per cent of the national income, as recommended by Unicef.
Ireland spends two-thirds of what its peer group spends on basic research, according the authors contend. Employers’ and self-employed PRSI should be increased to raise the national income by one percent, to fund increased State spending to improve public services, the report said.
This is just adding to the inflation bill and it indicates failure!