Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I welcome the delegation. I have looked at the ESRI Review of Research 2017, which is a very impressive document covering all the areas they have worked on during that year and across a range of areas.

I have some questions arising from Dr. McQuinn's introductory remarks. On the figures for housing completions, which were based on the number of ESB connection installations, do the housing statistics on completions stand up? One of my key objectives would be to build up the number of house completions to 35,000 to 40,000 units per annum. I understand that during the boom we built 90,000 houses in one specific year, which is the level of houses that would be built in the UK. What is the overall implication of that in terms of capital investment?

On health spending, I am looking at the predictions up to 2030, which are based on demographics. The demographics can show a significant range, as we could have an additional 40,000 to 60,000 people arising from migration flows. There is an all-party commitment to Sláintecare; is it possible to start putting real figures on health spending? What does it mean for future budgets? We are spending €15 billion at present yet we have significant waiting lists in acute health care, for example in cataract surgery, early childhood assessment and so on.Could the witnesses give us a firmer figure for the level of spending we would need to do across the health sector? Professor Barrett mentioned productivity and this is a point of concern because in economics, productivity is everything, is it not? What should we do about that? The committee has been heavily involved and produced a report on the issue of gender equality and the very modest programme in that area the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has undertaken and I note that Professor Barrett highlights in his own report and research the very small percentage of higher positions in the Civil Service that are held by women. Generally speaking, is increasing the involvement of women at all levels in the workforce linked to higher productivity?

I commend the witnesses on the outstanding work they have been doing across a range of areas.