Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation and for the work that Crosscare has done in recent decades. It has been very important for multiple generations of emigrants and, indeed, immigrants to Ireland.

I echo what Deputy Bríd Smith stated. Over 200,000 young people left Ireland. In this same committee we have heard presentations about pensions - another key focus - which constantly reminded us of the demographic gap. It seems extraordinary, not just in terms of employment but also in terms of the base and the balance of our demographic in the future, that there is not more proactive encouragement for people to return to the country.

From the presentations we have heard, it seems that catch-22 situations are arising. I note the recommendation on housing. We already know how extraordinarily difficult it is for people to secure housing. I imagine that one of the conditions is that a person knows that they can commit to a year's lease at a minimum. For many people, however, committing to returning home can be quite difficult if they know that they are going to be unable to access social supports. Are the witnesses finding that people are caught in catch-22 situations? Are they seeing situations where one member of a household or family is returning who has employment and another member of the family does not?

Do the witnesses find the people they work with are struggling to balance possible potential employment, possible social protection reporting and housing? Another concern, which overlaps with Roma and Travellers who are also groups affected by the habitual residency condition, is that there is a strong emphasis on secure housing, leasing a home, having family members who live here and have homes and what is called "settled residence". Do the witnesses find the intersection between housing security and being able to demonstrate one's centre of interest arises?