AS ECONOMIC growth slows it is imperative that the Government gives priority to rectifying Ireland's serious deficits in infrastructure and social provision, Fr Seán Healy has said.
"In a European context our roads, railways, IT, broadband and transport systems, compare badly," he said.
"Similarly, our poverty rates, unequal income distribution, the growing rich/poor gap and under-equipped health and education systems represent the most visible signs of the extensive gaps in our social provision," he added.
Where spending on social expenditure, health, education, welfare etc is concerned, only the newer EU states spend less than Ireland, he said.
The UK spent 22.5 per cent more per person on social expenditure than Ireland, while Denmark spent 45 per cent more and Austria and Belgium both spent 41 per cent more.
"Given the low levels of unemployment and the low numbers of elderly people in Ireland, relative to the rest of Europe, we would expect Ireland to be below the European average of 22.4 per cent of State GDP/GNP spent on social expenditure," he said.
Among national priorities in addressing inequality should be a commitment to rectify this social provision deficit, to reduce poverty to EU-average levels, to minimise social exclusion, and to build a fairer tax system, Fr Healy said.
The Government should also adopt standard fiscal planning methods, develop long-term planning, shift policy to target growth in per capita national income, and develop a rights-based approach to development, he said.
"While our per capita income is far above the EU average, our infrastructure in social housing and public transport and social provision in primary healthcare and social welfare are far below the European average. These deficits must be addressed if Ireland is to be a fair society that promotes wellbeing for all," he said.
