Invest pensions ‘to build more schools’
Irish pension funds should be invested in building schools, hospitals, libraries and sports facilities to help Ireland become a world-class country in which to live and work, the incoming president of the Royal Institute of the Architects in Ireland (RIAI) last night said.
Speaking at his inauguration, Paul Keogh said if the billions of euro invested abroad were spent on improving infrastructure, a “win-win” situation would arise where construction workers and architects would return to work while the country would benefit.
He said figures from the Department of Education showed that 1,100 schools needed funding for major capital works, 400 primary health-care facilities were needed and the Government did not know the condition of sports facilities.
Although there had been major investment on projects like the Wexford Opera house and the National Convention Centre, delays are dogging flagship projects like the National History Museum, Collins Barracks, Abbey Theatre and the Children’s Museum.
