18% of young people seriously deprived

Almost one in five young people (18%) in Ireland are experiencing serious deprivation.

And 42% of young people are living with their parents, with youth unemployment and cuts in social welfare making it more difficult for them to leave home and live independently.

The findings are taken from a study charting the changing social situation of young people aged 18 to 29 across the EU.

The figures, published today, are presented in an analysis of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions by the National Youth Council of Ireland.

Marie-Claire McAleer, NYCI senior research and policy officer, said that the study confirmed that 18% of young people in Ireland experience serious deprivation, up from 7% in 2007.

“This means that 18% cannot afford to keep their house warm, buy meat or fish at least every second day, if they wanted to, and buy new rather than second- hand clothes,” said Ms McAleer.

She said young people living in large households with their parents, partner, and children were most likely to experience a high level of deprivation.

The report found that nearly half of all young people in the EU live in households experiencing some form of deprivation.

For 27% of young people, this means being unable to afford annual holidays, invite friends over as guests, or replace worn-out furniture. A further 22% experience serious deprivation, a 6% increase since 2007.

The greatest increase in deprivation has been experienced in some southern European member states, such as Spain, Cyprus, Portugal, and Greece.

The cost of healthcare — the fourth highest in the EU — is also seen as a barrier for 51% of young people in Ireland.

The report states that, in Ireland, free healthcare is limited, and the rising cost issues may directly reflect increasing difficulties in making ends meet.

“Obviously, the current system is not working and needs to be replaced by one that provides greater equity and access to healthcare for all,” said Ms McAleer.

“We acknowledge that this is an issue that the Government is currently examining and we await with interest the publication of the white paper on the proposed universal health insurance model.”

Among the more positive findings are that 39% of Irish young people are involved in a club or society and 71% play sport or exercise once a week.

Also, over a third of Irish young people (38%) said they were involved in some form of political activity.

The report found that young people throughout the EU are less likely to trust institutions now than they did in 2007 — with the exception of the police, whom they trust as much as before.

And more than two thirds of young Europeans are generally optimistic about the future — a figure that has not changed much since 2007, despite the economic turmoil that has rocked the continent since the year that followed.