Politicians ‘should prioritise education, R&D’

POLITICAL parties preparing pre-election policies should focus on education, research and development and communications infrastructure, if Ireland is to create a sustainable and high value-added economy, economist Jim Power says.

At the launch of the Friends First Quarterly Economic Outlook the bank’s chief economist said: “Despite the unprecedented economic prosperity that has been generated over the past decade, many people are finding many aspects of their lives quite difficult and challenging.

“Exorbitant house prices, large mortgages, an increasingly dangerous society, a significant overall tax burden, a high cost of living, poor infrastructure, and strained public services are all combining to make people question the quality of life that they now enjoy.