A new survey shows that Ireland faces several challenges and major international problems, which make it hard for young people to grow up with confidence and ease when looking towards the future.
According to the most recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) “Growing Up in Ireland” survey, people aged 25 are mostly concerned about housing and poverty, with domestic issues being the most impactful.
Their concern is understandable. This is not only a policy issue but also a real and ongoing challenge. Many people in Ireland are aware of it through their own experience, or through family members and friends who are facing housing difficulties.
New stories emerge every week of students commuting long distances, couples in their 30s trapped in shared flats, or young adults who simply cannot afford to move out from their parents.
In total, over ten thousand people were officially homeless in Ireland in 2022, and more than 7,200 of them were in Dublin – a city rapidly becoming unliveable for many.
Although poverty and housing instability often come hand in hand, one of the main issues facing Irish families of all backgrounds is finding safe, reasonably priced homes. According to the latest government statistics, as of December 2024, more than 2,000 families in Ireland were residing in emergency housing.
This has a huge impact on children, as homelessness affects every aspect of their lives from infancy to young adulthood. Temple Street Hospital research shows that homelessness has a negative influence on a child’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development.
Even though the number of homeless people for young adults is not the highest out of the age groups, it is still a significant number, despite Ireland having one of Europe’s lowest youth unemployment rates (ages 15-24).
Ireland’s youth unemployment rate appears to be encouraging. Compared to several other EU member states, including Spain and Greece, where youth unemployment still surpasses 25%, the Irish percentage is far lower at only 12% of those aged 15-24 being unemployed or out of education.
But having a job does not guarantee housing access. Many young Irish workers are underemployed, working part-time, on zero-hour contracts, short term or temporary employment, and sometimes without any benefits or security being offered with the contract.
New data from the CSO shows that 18% of 25-year-olds went back to their parents’ house after attempting to live on their own, while 43% have never left. This indicates that by their mid-twenties, over 60% of young adults remain in the family home. Many of whom do so out of necessity rather than choice.
The numbers show a generation trapped by rising rents, stagnating incomes, and a property market that continues to price everyone out of the market but the wealthiest. While Ireland has one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies, many of its younger residents and workers are missing out on that wealth.
Having a stable place to live is one of the basic prerequisites for being able to engage as a full member of society and build your own independence, future and family. Yet it has become a privilege that is denied for so many young people in Ireland.
High pricing, a lack of availability, and low-quality housing are causing stress and worry, forcing thousands of young people to go abroad, including those educated and certified to become much-needed teachers and healthcare workers.
Without continuous and engaged government intervention, we risk allowing another generation to grow up not finding in Ireland the security and support they need to thrive.
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