Most under-25s fear they have no future here

Young people feel they have no option but to emigrate and have little faith that things will change, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

THE VAST majority of under-25s living in Ireland are “actively considering” emigration and do not believe they have any real future in their own country.

Two separate polls commissioned by the Irish Examiner have underlined a series of vital changes young people are demanding to see implemented if they are to remain in this country.

An irishexaminer.com online poll conducted in late November and early December shows the country’s youth are seeking root and branch reform of the entire political, social welfare and pensions systems.

However, in the under-25s category, the survey shows the vast majority of respondents also believe those currently in power will fail to make these changes, leaving them with no option but to leave their homeland.

According to the findings, 84.8% of the U-25’s surveyed do not trust this Government to make the right decisions in the budget.

A further 86.6% know someone who has emigrated since the economic crisis began two years ago, while 64.2% are “actively considering” emigration themselves.

A worrying two out of every three respondents (66.2%) also said young people “do not have any real future in Ireland”, despite the promised changes by various political parties.

This is partially because of the belief that they will never be able to own a property in their homeland (60.6%) and that if third-level education registration fees are increased they will not pursue their studies (60.6%) — despite 86.2% stating that university is “a sound investment... and worth the price”.

Many of these respondents who believe they will have to leave the country to achieve their goals have, however, also called for major changes in the daily lives of individuals who will stay in Ireland.

These changes include means testing child benefit payments (79.1%), cutting dole payments (66.2%) and means testing the state pension (64.2%).

Slashing the salaries and expenses of public servants (69.7%), significantly increasing taxes for those on €45,000 or more (62.7%), and increasing corporation tax (69.1%) have also been suggested.

In addition, a massive 83.6% of respondents under the age of 25 — one in 10 of whom are unemployed and half of whom are students — believe people out of work for six months or more should be made to do volunteer work if they are to keep receiving state support.

When asked which areas of the budget should be cut, the most popular choices from the group were overseas aid (50.7%), sport (35.8%), the arts (29.9%) and help for the unemployed (23.9%).

A separate national budget survey for the Irish Examiner conducted by MillwardBrown Lansdowne in November highlights similar issues.

In the 18-24-year-old age group, the number of people raising concerns over their personal financial problems has risen from 18% in September 2008 to 50% last month.

A total of 62% also feel worse off compared with 27% two years ago.

Just over one in four (29%) have been made redundant, 42% have seen their working hours reduced, 28% have taken a pay freeze and 58% have suffered a pay cut.