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Invest in the future

Growing our infrastructure
doesn't have to be a pipe dream

The challenge


About 70% of the public expenditure reduction during the crisis was achieved from cutbacks in the public capital programme. Capital investment must be ramped up again if we are to avoid the mistakes of the past, when infrastructure gaps were a major constraint on growth. Significant infrastructure gaps in the transport, health, education, energy and environmental services sectors need to be addressed. Record low borrowing costs mean that
now is the time to invest ambitiously in the future.

Targeted investment is also urgently needed to help address the growing gap between the pace of economic recovery in Dublin and in the regions. Investment in education, skills and labour market support is poorly targeted and is not having the desired effect. Education spending has been cut in recent years and we don’t have a robust financing model for third-level education.

The solution

  • Increase public investment in infrastructure to 4% of GDP by 2020
  • Streamline the planning process, particularly for energy projects and show greater leadership on community acceptance for infrastructure projects
  • Ensure public private partnerships (PPPs) are the key delivery mechanism for investment
  • Develop a new national spatial strategy, which supports balanced regional development
  • Involve more employers in the reform and roll-out of activation and training programmes
  • Increase effective investment in education and skills and put in place a sustainable funding model for the third-level sector
  • Implement a co-ordinated strategy for further education and training, and update the second-level curriculum so school leavers have core employability skills


Read about the other campaign priorities

Better government - Extend Ireland's global reach - Promote enterprise and entrepreneurship - Reduce the tax burden


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Related content links


Ibec policy positions on public sector