# ESRI
Last week
26th March 2023 - 1st April 2023
# Economic Outlook
Irish economy set for better-than-anticipated growth as inflation set to stabilise
That’s according to new researched published by the ESRI today.
Last month
March 2023
# Study
Brexit has caused challenges with cross-border travel on island of Ireland for migrants
That’s according to new researched published by the ESRI today.
This year
2023
# Childcare
Families in the North more reliant on friends and family for childcare than those in the Republic
Care by family and friends is much more comment in the North at 39%, while this figure is only at 6% in the Republic.
# migrant wage gap
Non-Irish workers face a 'significant' wage gap, ESRI report finds
Eastern Europeans particularly affected, earning 40% less per hour than Irish counterparts.
# Healthcare
ESRI: Extending free GP care to all by 2026 could cost state up to €881 million
The research was published today by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
# ESRI
Online gambling among young Irish people almost quadruples between ages of 17 and 20
The study also found a ‘statistically significant’ association between ‘playing team sports and regularly gambling’.
Last year
2022
# Universal basic income
Universal basic income could help low-paid workers but it may not target those most in need
The Economic and Social Research Institute has published a report detailing the pros and cons of UBI.
Cost-of-living pressures will persist in 2023 but Ireland should escape a recession, ESRI says
Authors of the report said there was ‘clear evidence of a slowing pace in the economy’.
# land development agency
Land Development Agency should have power to acquire public and private land, ESRI says
The Land Development Agency (LDA) currently builds homes on publicly owned land.
# esri report
Report finds Ireland’s productivity 40% higher than Northern Ireland’s over the past 20 years
The report concluded that there was a need to invest in education in the North to reduce the gap.
# connected
Just over half of nine-year-olds own a phone, up 10% on ten years ago
The report has compared the lives of nine-year-olds in 2007/8 and nine-year-olds in 2017/18.
# ESRI
Young people argued with parents and siblings more during first year of the Covid pandemic
The ESRI findings are based on an online survey that was carried out in December 2020.
# ESRI
Average private rents have increased by 84% over the last decade, report finds
The report by the Economic and Social Research Institute also found that income inequality is at a record low.
# adult deprivation
People who experienced childhood poverty more likely to experience deprivation as an adult
Ireland had the eight highest level of inequality within the EU in 2019.
# House Prices
House prices could be over-valued by 7%, with market predicted to 'moderate substantially'
That’s according to the ESRI’s latest quarterly economic commentary.
# budget measures
One-off Budget measures will protect most households from inflation this winter, ESRI says
The ESRI warned that welfare needs to increase annually if low-income households are to stay out of poverty.
# Research
Inequalities in mortality rates across socio-economic and ethnic groups remain in Ireland
That’s according to research published today by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
# Energy Bills
Exchequer records surplus of €6.3 billion as coalition plots Budget to tackle cost of living crisis
It comes as the ESRI’s senior research officer said that 43% of households could be in energy poverty due to rising prices.
# Research
Installing electric heat pumps in Irish homes could increase costs by up to 46%
The ESRI study found that retrofitting homes to a standard needed to support a heat pump was ‘by far’ the greatest driver of cost.
# Housing Crisis
Future retirees in Ireland to face 'substantially' lower levels of home ownership, research warns
The finding was contained in a new ESRI report.
# Economic Growth
ESRI says Ireland's economy to grow significantly with inflation estimated to be around 7%
Inflation is set to increase but unemployment is to drop.
# Mental Health
Levels of depression almost doubled among young people during the pandemic
Widespread mental health issues, particularly among young women are of ‘significant concern’.
# ESRI
Report finds number of households in energy poverty now at highest recorded rate
The estimate is based on energy inflation observed from January 2021 to April 2022.
# Social Welfare
Warning over linking unemployment benefits to previous earnings
The Economic and Social Research Institute said the move would give rise to weaker financial work incentives unless capped or time-limited.
# Housing
Poll: Do you struggle to pay your rent?
A new study has found that more than half of renting households receive State support.
# housing costs
More than half of renting households receive support for housing costs
The new report by the Economic and Social Research Institute looks at housing supports for low-income renters.
# Undocumented
Undocumented migrants need government schemes to gain access to services, says ESRI
‘In cases where a migrant’s residence becomes undocumented, care should be taken to ensure they are not afraid to access basic services.’
# Energy Crisis
After Moscow follows through on gas cut threat, 'all bets are off' on Europe's Russian supply
Ireland imports no gas directly from Russia but a loss of supply to Europe could push up prices globally.
Russia may have 'crossed the Rubicon' by halting gas flows to Poland and Bulgaria this week, experts say.
The move by Gazprom throws into question assumptions about Russia's unwillingness to retaliate using its energy exports.
Ireland imports no gas directly from Russia but a loss of Russian supply to Europe could further push up global prices.
≈
THE MORNING LEAD
Raise social welfare rates to shield struggling households from spiralling inflation, experts say
The Government is set to unveil a new cost of living package this week.
Current social welfare rates were set last year when inflation was expected to peak at 4.5% annually.
But with prices on the march, household earnings are now expected to fall in real terms in 2022 for the first time since 2013.
Economists say raising core social welfare raise on a temporary basis could be the best way of protecting low-income households.
THE MORNING LEAD
Ireland's inflation shock explained: The factors driving up prices here and across the globe
“What we have at present is pretty much all being driven by international factors.”
"What we have at present is pretty much all being driven by international factors," one economist said.
Issues around energy, food and fertiliser supplies have all reared their heads as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
Consumer sentiment has dipped amid rising prices, raising some concern about Ireland's economic prospects this year.
# Cost of Living
Disposable incomes to fall for the first time since 2012 amid rampant inflation, economists say
The combined impact of higher prices and greater uncertainty in global trade from the war in Ukraine is likely to weaken Irish growth this year.
# Shared Island Unit
Ireland better than Northern Ireland on life expectancy and infant mortality, finds report
The major difference between the two systems is the absence of a universal healthcare system in Ireland.
# Ukraine
Explainer: How reliant is Ireland on Russian energy - and why are gas and oil prices rising?
“When it comes to a global energy shortage, the implications are far more devastating in developing countries,” one economist said.
# Inflation
Targeted welfare payments would ease cost of living pressure on lower-income workers, experts say
The Government is to unveil a “substantial” package of measures tomorrow, the Tánaiste told Fine Gael TDs.
THE MORNING LEAD
Traditional remedies might not work. So how will we cure the surging cost of living?
Almost everything is more expensive than it was a year ago, from energy to fuel to bathroom fittings and Big Macs.
Almost everything is more expensive than it was a year ago, from energy to fuel to bathroom fittings and Big Macs.
Usually, governments might cut public spending and central bankers could hike interest rates in response.
But economists say the logic of traditional remedies is 'debatable' in the unprecedented context of the pandemic.
# covid measures
A rise in 'enjoyment' and less boredom: How Ireland feels about the reopening
According to a survey held on Monday, a lot more people are enjoying themselves again – but there is a sense of unease, too.
THE MORNING LEAD
Clear climate information can strongly affect support for action, Irish study finds
New research has investigated the public’s understanding of climate change and how it affects support for action.
A new Irish study has investigated the public's understanding of climate change and how it affects support for action, Lauren Boland reports.
People who are provided with information about climate change and its causes are more likely to be in favour of measures to tackle it.
But we tend to underestimate the benefits of high-impact actions, such as eating less meat, and overestimate low-impact actions like recycling.
# ESRI
Minimum wage rise leads to less hours in some cases - but workers still benefit overall
Following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission, the Irish minimum wage has increased on a yearly basis from 2016 onwards.
All time
THE MORNING LEAD
Incoming cold snap looks likely to bring inflated Irish energy bills with it in early 2022
The arrival of freezing temperatures in parts of Europe will likely increase European demand for natural gas.
The arrival of freezing temperatures in parts of Europe will likely increase European demand for natural gas.
While the forecast for Ireland is comparatively mild, supplies of gas are in relatively short supply across Europe due to a number of factors.
This could further increase wholesale gas prices, in turn, fueling electricity and gas bill hikes as soon as January.
# Trading Places
Brexit drives slump in Irish imports from Britain while cross-border trade flourishes
The food and beverage sector has been particularly affected by the changes, according to the ESRI.
