Informed Policy for a Better Ireland

child wearing wellies and playing in a puddle
Material deprivation rises for children as inflation erodes real incomes

 Material deprivation – the share of individuals in households unable to afford two or more items from a list of ten essentials – rose from 17.7% in 2022 to 20.1% in 2023 for those aged under 18.

Aerial photo of the Liffey in Dublin City Centre
Budget 2025 will result in small real income gains for households in 2025

The package of tax cuts, welfare increases, cost-of-living measures and indirect tax cuts has grown broadly in line with forecast wage growth of 4.2% for 2025, compared to the 2024 package. 

Research Areas

The mission of the Economic and Social Research Institute is to advance evidence-based policymaking that supports economic sustainability and social progress in Ireland. ESRI researchers apply the highest standards of academic excellence to challenges facing policymakers, focusing on 12 areas of critical importance to 21st Century Ireland.