Ireland increasingly no country for young people – Harmon
Labour Cllr and general election candidate in Cork South-Central Laura Harmon has accused Government of failing Ireland’s young people.
Cllr Harmon said:
“We’re experiencing a massive brain drain as more and more of our young people are forced to look elsewhere for an opportunity to live a full life. The CSO figures published today show what many people know to be true – Ireland is no country for young people.
“Three of my four younger sisters have left Ireland as they don’t see a future here currently.
“There’s been a 126% increase of people emigrating from Ireland to Australia in the year alone. Housing and the cost of living in Ireland are often cited as the key reasons young people are opting to leave our shores in search of better.
“Unfortunately, too many of our cities have become virtually uninhabitable for young people. Just yesterday, the latest daft.ie report confirmed that rents have risen by almost 12% in Cork city where the average rent is now €2,005. Meanwhile, incomes have stayed relatively static.
“The 2022 Census revealed that a staggering 68% of 18-34 year olds are still living at home with their parents – the majority of whom are not doing so out of choice, but by virtue of eight wasted years of economic prosperity by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
“The full impact of renewed emigration is already being felt in every town and village in Ireland. The vast bulk of our young people feel that they simply do not stand a chance at getting the basics like affordable housing here in Ireland.
“We are about to witness another hollowing out of a generation because this Government has failed to invest in their future.”