The building of a new administrative capital city in the centre of Ireland, subways for Dublin, Cork and Galway, and funding for the reunification of Ireland are among the suggestions received by the Taoiseach from members of the public on what the Government should do with the €14 billion Apple tax money.
The Department of the Taoiseach received 52 letters and emails about how he should spend the money, a sample of which has been released to RTÉ News under Freedom of Information.
One email suggested a new administrative capital city should be developed close to the geographical centre of Ireland, following similar moves in Brazil, Kazakhstan and Malaysia.
“Based on global precedents, I would estimate the budget for this project to be €5-€15 billion depending on what you want to build,” the person wrote.
Another emailer said they were “over the moon” at news of the €14 billion euro and that it meant Ireland had “landed the jackpot”.
The person suggested the money should be used for the construction of new subways for Dublin, Cork and Galway, as well as upgraded ports for Sligo, Foynes, Killybegs and An Fód Dubh.
There was also an email from a person who said the money could be used to fund the reunification of Ireland.
“I wonder whether now is the time to propose a financial package capable of re-uniting Ireland,” the email stated.
“The costs of unification have always been viewed as prohibitive, however by using the money in this way you will ensure that the economy does not overheat and put the UK in a position where it simply has no compelling alternative proposition that maintains the current status quo,” according to the email.
Health and social care
Many of the emails called for investments in the health service and social care.
Suggestions for the money included tackling problems at University Hospital Limerick, building a new hospital on a green field site close to Dublin’s M50 and funding for scoliosis treatment for children.
One emailer said that Cork University Hospital should be expanded which, if Cork builders were used, would “make Cork rock” like “Rory Gallagher did”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was also advised to use the Apple money for compensation for women who suffered in Magdalen laundries, investments in family resource centres and to cut the waiting lists for assessments for children with special needs.
Housing
Several emails focussed on tackling the shortage of housing.
One called for the money to be spent on building apartment blocks in major cities, with the units then rented at reduced rates to frontline workers such as gardaí, teachers, nurses and firefighters.
Another suggested that a number of the country’s ports should be moved and the land rezoned for housing.
One emailer called for a Government-backed mortgage scheme. The person described themselves as a hard-working parent of children with special needs, who has been on a council waiting list for six years.
“I have just finished my shift and I am going into my mouldy house where my children are sleeping,” the person wrote.
“Would a Government mortgage fund for people that can’t get a mortgage with banks because deposits are so high make sense?” they asked.
Technology and infrastructure
A number of suggestions related to investments in the technology sector including the development of a start-up ecosystem, technology grants for businesses and a joint venture with Apple focussed on artificial intelligence (AI) research.
Other emails called for investments in power generation to lower electricity costs, and funding for community energy schemes.
There were also various suggestions about road upgrades with calls for the Apple money to be used for projects including the N17 in Galway and the development of a Limerick to Waterford motorway.
Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan wrote to the Taoiseach asking for some of the money to be used for improvement works on the N71 in Cork.
Other proposed ideas included the construction of a new prison and a youth detention facility, as well as investments in the country’s immigration system.
The Irish Farmers’ Association wrote to Simon Harris suggesting that, in the context of the Apple money being used to fund water infrastructure, proposed increases in water charges for farmers should be paused.
