Eurostat reveals level of spending in boom years

European texting champions, post offices on every corner, eating out so often the domestic food bills were small, and leaving school early for well-paid jobs.

It’s a snapshot of the good old days in Ireland that many would not recognise any more as austerity bites.

The figures, courtesy of the Eurostat, are mostly from three and four years ago and tell their own stories of each EU country.