Water Charges, Water Poverty and Water Credits

10 Oct 2014
infobo
Until October of 2014 water and wastewater services in Ireland were funded through general taxation with an additional contribution from commercial rates. Usage based water charges take effect from October for residential households and are expected to raise close to €370 million on an annual basis...

Water charges: affordability and distribution of cost

10 Oct 2014
Dr Tom McDonnell
User based water charges went live on the 1st of October. Consumption charges are regressive, impact disproportionately on low income households and the introduction of user based water charges raises significant affordability issues. The current system of free allowances is expensive, poorly...

Monday Blog: The Shifts and the Shocks

10 Oct 2014
Tom Healy
My review of Martin Wolf's book, The Shifts and the Shocks, was published recently in the Irish Times. The book provides a timely and serious analysis of the global situation and outlines some pointers about what needs to happen next if we are not to be condemned to permanent stagnation. Read the...

The Case for an Affordable Housing Provision Agency

07 Oct 2014
infobo
The creation of a public housing agency should play an important role in meeting the challenge of providing a large number of housing units over the coming years. Providing a steady supply of social houses on an annual basis is an ongoing need of a well-functioning, stable economy. While existing...

The case for investment in social housing

07 Oct 2014
Daragh McCarthy
"Regeneration schemes”, we must never forget, are not just about plans, structures or budgets. They are not just about the physical houses provided. They are about communities that are enabled to thrive and flourish. They are about people who are being acknowledged and encouraged to develop a proud...

Economic Outlook, Autumn 14

External event contribution
Slides from Dr Tom McDonnell's presentation to the PSEU conference.

Recent VAT changes: who gained? who lost?

01 Oct 2014
infobo
Across the EU changes to indirect taxes, and particularly VAT, have been a central part of countries response to the economic crisis. By mid-2014, 22 of the 28 EU member states had increased VAT rates since the onset of the economic crisis in 2008. Over that period VAT rates have featured as an area...

Fact of the week: long term unemployment share

30 Sep 2014
Daragh McCarthy
As shown in the latest Quarterly Economic Facts , the long term unemployment share gives the number of people that have been looking for work for 12 months or more as a proportion of the total number of people unemployed. The rate in the Republic of Ireland has risen sharply in recent years, over...
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