Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to read an email into the record of the House. It is reflective of emails, calls and messages I receive every week. It reads as follows:

I work in the tech industry, and at 35, I'm renting a bedroom in a house with 4 other working professionals.

I've given up on hoping that the housing disaster here will improve, so I've had it approved by the company I work for and will be emigrating. My colleagues are now making similar requests.

I'm just writing to let you know of a reality that many working professionals my age deal with. Now with the Irish Independent reporting that house building will slow down due to costs, unless the state gets involved and builds affordable apartments and houses, there will be a brain drain in this country as we are in no position to lay roots and start families here. My only hope in sending this is to get your understanding how serious this problem is for so many.

Thank you for reading,

- Owen

What can be done for Owen and so many more like him across the country?

See this speech in context