ESRI Newsletter June 2025

July 02, 2025

Dear Reader,

June marked the beginning of my tenure as Director of the ESRI, and I’m delighted to share this first message with you. It is an honour to take on this role at a time when the value of independent, evidence-based research is more evident than ever. The ESRI has long played a role in shaping public policy and contributing to national dialogue, and I look forward to working closely with colleagues, policymakers and funders to build on this strong foundation.

June was a particularly productive month for the Institute, marked by the publication of several significant research outputs that reflect the breadth and depth of our work.

Our Quarterly Economic Commentary, Summer 2025 provided a comprehensive assessment of the current economic landscape. While the international outlook remains uncertain, the Irish domestic economy continues to perform strongly. However, persistent infrastructure and housing capacity constraints are likely to limit long-term growth unless addressed through sustained public investment.

Looking to future demands, three major reports highlighted the growing pressures on Ireland’s health and social care systems due to population growth and ageing. Demand for GP consultations is projected to increase by at least 23% by 2040, while the number of long-term residential care beds and home support hours for older people will need to increase by at least 60%. Additionally, the number of inpatient beds in public acute hospitals is projected to grow by at least 40% over the same period. These findings provide policymakers with evidence on the scale of service expansion required to meet future demand.

We also published various reports examining child poverty and deprivation. One report, published as part of our Budget Perspectives series, finds that child-related benefits lift over 150,000 children out of poverty in Ireland. The report explored ways to further reduce child poverty and found that a second tier of means-tested Child Benefit is the most cost-effective option. Given the detrimental and long-term effects of childhood disadvantage, these findings offer evidence to inform policy discussions in the lead-up to Budget 2026.

Lastly, as the ESRI relies on the support of our sponsors, patrons, and corporate members to carry out our work, I am pleased to report that in recent months the following organisations have joined as corporate members: Heath Service Executive (HSE), Revenue Commissioners, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

I look forward to sharing more updates with you in the months ahead and to working together to advance the ESRI’s mission of providing evidence to inform policymaking and public debate.

Regards,