
Ahead of Budget 2025, the €13 billion windfall from the European Commission’s decision on Apple’s tax arrangements presents an unprecedented opportunity for Ireland to invest in the future. During a recent event hosted by the Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with Children’s Rights Alliance, experts and thought-leaders came together to discuss how this windfall could be used to benefit children and young people, particularly in the areas of education and early years infrastructure.
Key Recommendations for Investment in Children’s Future:
Tackling Child Poverty through Increased Support
Alan Barrett emphasised the importance of expanding current expenditure, particularly through child benefit reforms, to lift over 40,000 children out of poverty. He challenged policymakers to think as ambitiously about tackling child poverty as Ireland has done for elderly poverty. Recommendations included increasing child benefits, enhancing payments for working families, and creating a new second-tier income support specifically for children.
Home Visiting Programs as a Solution to Child Poverty
Grainne Collins presented groundbreaking research showing that increased investment in home visiting programs could significantly reduce child poverty, with the returns on such investments paying off in the long term. This calls for a strategic investment in human capital, particularly targeting early intervention through services that support all families but also highlighting vulnerable children and families.
Capital Investment in Education and Early Years Infrastructure
A strong focus was placed on using the Apple Tax windfall for capital investments that could transform Ireland’s early years and education systems. There is a pressing need to build better school buildings, improve early years services, and create more accessible play spaces. These long-term investments could pay significant dividends, ensuring every child has access to the resources and opportunities to thrive.
Bridging Finance for Long-term Gains
Fintan O'Toole posed an important question: could the Apple Tax funds be used as “bridging finance” to support early intervention programs, like home visiting? Given the strong evidence for the return on investment in these programs, he suggested that this approach could yield substantial social and economic benefits over time.
Addressing Basic Infrastructure Needs
Tanya W. called for a more progressive focus, highlighting the need to address fundamental infrastructure gaps for marginalised communities. For example, many families living in poor quality accommodation—such as Traveller families—lack basic amenities like access to water. Strategic investments in these areas would ensure that the funds support those most in need.
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