Q1. Money that is currently being saved for future policy challenges (such as climate change and an ageing population) should be spent now on things like housing and healthcare.
The government currently puts aside several billion euros a year into the Future Ireland Fund to help deal with future expenditure pressures such as ageing and climate change. Some say this is prudent, while others think the money should be used now to help address problems in housing and healthcare.
Q1. Money that is currently being saved for future policy challenges (such as climate change and an ageing population) should be spent now on things like housing and healthcare.
Agree
Monaa K Sood

Monaa K Sood

Green Party

source: candidate

  • Chris Pender

    Chris Pender

    Social Democrats

    While it would be impossible, and inadvisable, to spend all this money now, there is plenty of scope to use it in the shorter term on hugely important infrastructure projects like building schools, resourcing health care and building affordable housing. - source: candidate

  • Anthony Casey

    Anthony Casey

    Irish Freedom Party

    Climate change is being used as a scare tactic to increase taxation. Cut the carbon tax and the cost of living will reduce - source: candidate

  • Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

    Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

    Sinn Féin

    We have substantial infrastructural deficits in water, energy, transport, housing and health. It is prudent to save some of the substantial funds the State is accruing, but it is also prudent to invest in our housing stock, infrastructure, and public services. - source: party

Neither agree nor disagree
  • Melissa Byrne

    Melissa Byrne

    Aontú

    We should look to long term planning but equally we need to invest in infrastructure and resources now. It cannot be the case that we allow housing and healthcare to languish while we save finances for the future. We will only see an increase in emigration which will detrimentally impact the country - source: candidate

  • Patricia Ryan

    Patricia Ryan

    Independent

    I believe we do need to address issues like housing and healthcare now, and the money we have for future policy challenges should be considered a source of funding for contemporary crises, but I believe this should be scrutinised on a case by case basis. - source: candidate

  • Mark Wall

    Mark Wall

    Labour Party

    Labour will establish a Strategic Investment and Development Bank deploying funds from the FIF to finance the climate transition, new housing and support SMEs. We will continue to save for the future and deploy the nature fund from 2026. - source: party

  • Rob Cosgrave

    Rob Cosgrave

    People Before Profit-Solidarity

    False choice. You can do both with current budget surplus and a policy of taxing wealth. - source: party

Disagree
Cathal Berry

Cathal Berry

Independent

source: candidate

  • Martin Heydon

    Martin Heydon

    Fine Gael

    We are helping people today, spending large amounts on housing and health. But we also need to prepare for the future. A growing and ageing population, along with global uncertainty, means Ireland needs to put some money away now to pay for future costs and risks. - source: party

  • Fiona O’Loughlin

    Fiona O’Loughlin

    Fianna Fáil

    These funds ensure future generations are not left to deal with the challenges facing us. They allow us to plan, while providing for those who need assistance, and invest in public infrastructure/services. They underpin ability to deliver housing and healthcare. - source: party

No opinion
no candidate selected this answer