Record numbers of young people fleeing State shocking but not surprising
Speaking after figures revealed that more than 69,000 people moved out of the state in the 12 months up to April, the highest figure since 2015 is shocking but not surprising according to Limerick Labour General Election Candidate Cllr Conor Sheehan.
Speaking after the CSO figures were released Cllr Sheehan said:
“The depressing fact is that young people are not leaving because they cannot get a job as our parents and grandparents were forced to. They are leaving because they cannot purchase a home and build a life here.
“The proposal from Government recently to give young people a tax credit of €750 not to emigrate was tone deaf and condescending but very consistent in keeping with this Government’s long standing policy of disenfranchising young people.
“These figures should shock any politician currently in Dáil Eireann to their very core and are shocking when you compare the economic backdrop of the country of now compared to 2015.
“The unfortunate truth is that we live in a paradox of plenty where anyone who wants a job effectively has one as we have a high skilled educated workforce the envy of the world over but a housing crisis that has escalated from a problem to a full scale national emergency.
“With record high rents and house prices and a record low supply of homes on the private rented market, many young people who can are choosing to emigrate to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Canada.
“In the second quarter of 2024 house prices in Limerick City were 12.5% higher than 2023, compared to a rise of 4% seen a year ago. The average price of a home is now an eye watering €292,253. The average rent in Limerick city is now €2107 which is up 5.5% in the last quarter alone and a year on year increase of 21.2%.
“As one of the few younger candidates in the upcoming election, I am standing so that people like me can have a future here. I am sick and tired of having to bear the brunt of poor policy decisions made my boomers which have negatively affected me and my generation.
“Most of my peers have either emigrated or are stuck at home living with their parents with home ownership or even secure rental accommodation well beyond their reach.”