Latest news with #ESRI-SharedIsland
The Journal
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Childcare and education among areas needing more cross border co-operation, report says
CROSS BORDER CO-OPERATION in key areas identified by the Good Friday Agreement has not met its full potential, according to a report. The latest ESRI-Shared Island report also identifies a number of areas around employment, childcare, and education. The Good Friday Agreement established a framework for formal cross-border co-operation on the island, creating six North-South bodies under the North South Ministerial Council. The report states: 'Despite successes in a co-operative approach to tourism, progress in other strategic areas such as education, health, agriculture, and the environment has not met its full potential.' It argues there are advantages to 'substantially upscaling North-South co-operation' in these existing strategic areas and expanding the remit of collaboration to skills provision, foreign direct investment, labour market access and energy security. The report identifies areas with policy implications, including much higher rates of early school leaving in Northern Ireland having consequences for access and quality of employment, as well as productivity. There are also differences in take-up of post-secondary qualifications, showing the 'potential to develop further education and training in Northern Ireland as a route to employment'. The report says there is potential for mutual policy learning around the targeting of local areas or schools as a basis for addressing educational disadvantage, as inequality in this area has knock-on consequences for adult life changes including employment and health. There is a need for workforce development in healthcare and housing supply in both jurisdictions, the authors state. There are similar challenges in the 'gendered nature of care' and impacts on employment, with a need for continuing expansion of early years and after-school care on both sides of the border. 'Lone mothers face particular challenges in accessing high-quality employment in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, suggesting the need for appropriate education and training supports as well as childcare.' The latest ESRI report is a synthesis of 15 previous publications under the four-year work programme conducted for the Irish Government's Shared Island Unit. Advertisement The Taoiseach is scheduled to launch the report at an event in Dublin City Centre on Monday where he will deliver a keynote address. Micheal Martin said: 'We need data to inform all-island investment and co-operation priorities, as we build a shared future together on this island. 'The huge untapped potential of all-island co-operation is a major takeaway from the ESRI's overarching report. This reflects the Government's commitments to expand our Shared Island Initiative, so that we bring co-operation to a new level.' Inequalities Other key findings include a widening gap in disposable household income between Ireland and Northern Ireland, at 18.3% higher in the Republic in 2018. Education participation rates are higher in Ireland across nearly all age groups, while early school leaving is more common in Northern Ireland. Life expectancy at birth is two years higher in Ireland than in Northern Ireland, reflecting overall differences in welfare and living standards. Women with children are less likely to be in paid employment than men in both jurisdictions, with higher rates of part-time work and low pay among women. Market income inequality before taxes and benefits is lower in Northern Ireland. In Ireland, the tax system is more important in reducing inequality while in Northern Ireland, means-tested benefits play a stronger role. Overall, inequality in disposable income after tax and transfers is very similar in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Child income poverty rates are higher in Northern Ireland, while child material deprivation is somewhat higher in Ireland. Both regions have similar GP supply and primary healthcare utilisation, with long waits being a common issue in both regions. Ireland has higher levels of unmet needs due to costs. Housing costs represent around 20% of disposable income in both regions, with more extreme boom and bust cycles in Ireland. Satisfaction with the political system and trust in institutions are generally higher in Ireland, though attitudes have been volatile. There is some evidence that younger generations are becoming more disillusioned, particularly in Northern Ireland.
BreakingNews.ie
28-04-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Cross-border co-operation could be expanded, ESRI report concludes
Cross-border co-operation in key areas identified by the Good Friday Agreement has not met its full potential, according to a report. The latest ESRI-Shared Island report also identifies a number of areas around employment, childcare, and education. Advertisement The Good Friday Agreement established a framework for formal cross-border co-operation on the island, creating six North-South bodies under the North-South Ministerial Council. The report states: 'Despite successes in a co-operative approach to tourism, progress in other strategic areas such as education, health, agriculture, and the environment has not met its full potential.' It argues there are advantages to 'substantially upscaling North-South co-operation' in these existing strategic areas and expanding the remit of collaboration to skills provision, foreign direct investment, labour market access and energy security. The report identifies areas with policy implications, including much higher rates of early school leaving in Northern Ireland having consequences for access and quality of employment, as well as productivity. Advertisement There are also differences in take-up of post-secondary qualifications, showing the 'potential to develop further education and training in Northern Ireland as a route to employment'. The report says there is potential for mutual policy learning around the targeting of local areas or schools as a basis for addressing educational disadvantage, as inequality in this area has knock-on consequences for adult life changes including employment and health. There is a need for workforce development in healthcare and housing supply in both jurisdictions, the authors state. There are similar challenges in the 'gendered nature of care' and impacts on employment, with a need for continuing expansion of early years and after-school care on both sides of the border. Advertisement 'Lone mothers face particular challenges in accessing high-quality employment in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, suggesting the need for appropriate education and training supports as well as childcare.' The latest ESRI report is a synthesis of 15 previous publications under the four-year work programme conducted for the Government's Shared Island Unit. The Taoiseach is scheduled to launch the report at an event in Dublin City Centre on Monday, where he will deliver a keynote address. Micheál Martin said: 'We need data to inform all-island investment and co-operation priorities, as we build a shared future together on this island. Advertisement 'The huge untapped potential of all-island co-operation is a major takeaway from the ESRI's overarching report. This reflects the Government's commitments to expand our Shared Island Initiative, so that we bring co-operation to a new level.' The report said satisfaction with the political system and trust in institutions are generally higher in Ireland than Northern Ireland. Photo: PA. Other key findings include a widening gap in disposable household income between Ireland and Northern Ireland, at 18.3 per cent higher in the Republic in 2018. Education participation rates are higher in Ireland across nearly all age groups, while early school leaving is more common in Northern Ireland. Life expectancy at birth is two years higher in Ireland than in Northern Ireland, reflecting overall differences in welfare and living standards. Advertisement Women with children are less likely to be in paid employment than men in both jurisdictions, with higher rates of part-time work and low pay among women. Market income inequality before taxes and benefits is lower in Northern Ireland. In Ireland, the tax system is more important in reducing inequality while in Northern Ireland, means-tested benefits play a stronger role. Overall, inequality in disposable income after tax and transfers is very similar in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Child income poverty rates are higher in Northern Ireland, while child material deprivation is somewhat higher in Ireland. Both regions have similar GP supply and primary healthcare utilisation, with long waits being a common issue in both regions. Ireland has higher levels of unmet needs due to costs. Ireland Varadkar says US is no longer 'reliable political... Read More Housing costs represent around 20% of disposable income in both regions, with more extreme boom and bust cycles in Ireland. Satisfaction with the political system and trust in institutions are generally higher in Ireland, though attitudes have been volatile. There is some evidence that younger generations are becoming more disillusioned, particularly in Northern Ireland.
Irish Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Shared Island: Cross-border co-operation should be expanded, ESRI report concludes
Cross-border co-operation in key areas identified by the Belfast Agreement has not met its full potential, according to a report. The latest ESRI-Shared Island report also identifies a number of areas around employment, childcare, and education. The Belfast Agreement, signed on Good Friday, 1998, established a framework for formal cross-border co-operation on the island of Ireland, creating six North-South bodies under the North South Ministerial Council. The latest report states: 'Despite successes in a co-operative approach to tourism, progress in other strategic areas such as education, health, agriculture, and the environment has not met its full potential.' READ MORE It argues there are advantages to 'substantially upscaling North-South co-operation' in these existing strategic areas and expanding the remit of collaboration to skills provision, foreign direct investment, labour market access and energy security. The report identifies areas with policy implications, including much higher rates of early school leaving in Northern Ireland having consequences for access and quality of employment, as well as productivity. There are also differences in take-up of post-secondary qualifications, showing the 'potential to develop further education and training in Northern Ireland as a route to employment'. The report says there is potential for mutual policy learning around the targeting of local areas or schools as a basis for addressing educational disadvantage, as inequality in this area has knock-on consequences for adult life changes including employment and health. There is a need for workforce development in healthcare and housing supply in both jurisdictions, the authors state. There are similar challenges in the 'gendered nature of care' and impacts on employment, with a need for continuing expansion of early years and after-school care on both sides of the Border. 'Lone mothers face particular challenges in accessing high-quality employment in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, suggesting the need for appropriate education and training supports as well as childcare.' The latest ESRI report is a synthesis of 15 previous publications under the four-year work programme conducted for the Government's Shared Island Unit. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is scheduled to launch the report at an event in Dublin City Centre on Monday where he will deliver a keynote address. Other key findings of the report include a widening gap in disposable household income between Ireland and Northern Ireland, at 18.3 per cent higher in the Republic in 2018. Education participation rates are higher south of the Border across nearly all age groups, while early school leaving is more common in Northern Ireland. Life expectancy at birth is two years higher in the Republic than in Northern Ireland, reflecting overall differences in welfare and living standards. Women with children are less likely to be in paid employment than men in both jurisdictions, with higher rates of part-time work and low pay among women. Market income inequality before taxes and benefits is lower in Northern Ireland. In the Republica, the tax system is more important in reducing inequality while in Northern Ireland, means-tested benefits play a stronger role. Overall, inequality in disposable income after tax and transfers is very similar in both jurisdiction. Child income poverty rates are higher in Northern Ireland, while child material deprivation is somewhat higher in the Republic. Housing costs represent around 20 per cent of disposable income in both regions, with more extreme boom and bust cycles in the Republic. - PA
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach to publish new report on North-South cooperation
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will publish a significant report on the Government's Shared Island initiative, which aims to harness the potential of the Good Friday Agreement by enhancing cross-border cooperation. The latest joint ESRI-Shared Island report, entitled 'Sharing the Island: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities', marks four years of collaboration. In his keynote address in Dublin, it is expected that Mr Martin will point to the further €1 billion investment in the Shared Island Fund to 2035, and reflect on the strengthened ties between Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government. There have been 15 previous reports, and the research has examined addressing child poverty and education outcomes. It has led to pilot programmes, involving cooperation north and south, aimed at reducing inequality in education. It is expected that Mr Martin will identify how it is possible to unlock more potential for all-island cooperation in areas such as skills, foreign direct investment and energy, with ongoing research feeding into policy.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
North-South co-operation has not reached full potential, says new report
Cross-border co-operation in key areas identified by the Good Friday Agreement has not met its full potential, according to a report. The latest ESRI-Shared Island study also identifies a number of areas around employment, childcare, and education. The Good Friday Agreement established a framework for formal cross-border co-operation on the island, creating six North-South bodies under the North South Ministerial Council. The report states: 'Despite successes in a co-operative approach to tourism, progress in other strategic areas such as education, health, agriculture, and the environment has not met its full potential.' It argues there are advantages to 'substantially upscaling North-South co-operation' in these existing strategic areas and expanding the remit of collaboration to skills provision, foreign direct investment, labour market access and energy security. The report identifies areas with policy implications, including much higher rates of early school leaving in Northern Ireland having consequences for access and quality of employment, as well as productivity. There are also differences in take-up of post-secondary qualifications, showing the 'potential to develop further education and training in Northern Ireland as a route to employment'. The report says there is potential for mutual policy learning around the targeting of local areas or schools as a basis for addressing educational disadvantage, as inequality in this area has knock-on outcomes for adult life changes including employment and health. There is a need for workforce development in healthcare and housing supply in both jurisdictions, the authors state. There are similar challenges in the 'gendered nature of care' and impacts on employment, with a need for continuing expansion of early years and after-school care on both sides of the border. It said: 'Lone mothers face particular challenges in accessing high-quality employment in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, suggesting the need for appropriate education and training supports as well as childcare.' The latest ESRI report is a synthesis of 15 previous publications under the four-year work programme conducted for the Irish Government's Shared Island Unit. The Taoiseach is scheduled to launch the report in Dublin today and deliver a keynote address. Micheal Martin said: 'The huge untapped potential of all-island co-operation is a major takeaway from the ESRI's overarching report. 'This reflects the Government's commitments to expand our Shared Island Initiative, so that we bring co-operation to a new level.' Other key findings include a widening gap in disposable household income between Ireland and Northern Ireland, at 18.3% higher in the Republic in 2018. Education participation rates are higher in Ireland across nearly all age groups, while early school leaving is more rife in Northern Ireland. Life expectancy at birth is two years higher in Ireland than in Northern Ireland, reflecting overall differences in welfare and living standards. Mums are less likely to be in paid employment than men in both jurisdictions, with higher rates of part-time work and low pay among women. Market income inequality before taxes and benefits is lower in Northern Ireland. In Ireland, the tax system is more important in reducing inequality while in Northern Ireland, means-tested benefits play a stronger role. Overall, inequality in disposable income after tax and transfers is very similar in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Child income poverty rates are higher in Northern Ireland, while child material deprivation is somewhat higher in Ireland. Both regions have similar GP supply and primary healthcare utilisation, with long waits being a common issue. Housing costs represent around 20% of disposable income in both regions, with more extreme boom and bust cycles in Ireland. Satisfaction with the political system and trust in institutions are generally higher in Ireland. There is some evidence younger generations are becoming more disillusioned, particularly in Northern Ireland.
