A €650m increase is needed in public investment, according to the trade union Unite.

The group is calling for the Government to invest in Ireland’s infrastructure – namely water, broadband and transport – through an expanded budget.

Increased investment is one of five areas that the union says the Government needs to focus on in the upcoming budget.

It is calling for a €2.8bn expenditure package, which would also include an emergency housing programme, an increase in social protection rates, pay-related social insurance benefits and more public service expenditure.

Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, says investment is key to long-term economic growth.

Mr Kelly said: “50% of economic growth, for example, is made up of investment – infrastructure, business, transportation, social housing – and Ireland has one of the lowest levels of public investment in the EU 15.

“So what we are saying is that has to be an area that is driven in the Budget.

“It will bring us advanced broadband, the sort of research and development that we need, the investment in water, waste and our public transport.”