Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all wish that Senator Seery Kearney could speak for a bit longer, but this is one of those debates that is of great use and great importance. It is one that is particularly relevant at the time we are in.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht a bheith linn agus páirt a ghlacadh sa dhíospóireacht thábhachtach seo. Tá an ceart againn é a phlé agus tá sé fiúntach mar dhíospóireacht. Molaim an grúpa Neamhspleách as an rún a chur os ár gcomhair anocht.

Unfortunately, I do not think that it is a stretch to say that the reality in many cases is that this State has failed its young people. I say that reluctantly. Sadly, we see it every day as we board a train that is crowded with students who are facing an hours-long commute because they cannot find accommodation. We see it as we chat to the barista who tells us that they taking a year out from studies because they cannot afford the fees. We see it as we listen to younger friends and family plan for a life abroad, not because of a sense of adventure, but because of the fear of a future in Ireland. These anecdotes are not the exception; indeed, recent Red C research for the National Youth Council of Ireland suggests they are the norm. It found that more than 70% of young people aged 18 to 24 in this State are considering emigrating because they think they would enjoy a better quality of life elsewhere. Some 80% are fearful of the future; 50% report worsening mental health in the context of the cost of living; 40% are less happy than they were six months ago; and almost 50% say they are struggling to make ends meet. Their fears and beliefs with regard to the cost of living, which is what we are here to discuss tonight in terms of the thrust of the Private Members' business, are not unfounded. The lack of progress on raising the rate of jobseekers’ allowance paid to those under the age of 25 to bring it into line with that paid to over-25s, along with the lack of movement on removing subminimal rates of minimum wage for under-20s, means that even as prices continue to soar, there is little change for many young people.

On housing, a recent report by the Residential Tenancies Board shows that the average rent for a new tenancy in the first quarter of 2022 was €1,460 State-wide and €2,015 in Dublin. Such rents are simply untenable for anyone, never mind young people who are starting out in life or seeking to start out in life.

Students are particularly vulnerable to the housing crisis. With only 716 homes available to rent on 1 August, many young people who have spent years studying to get to college are now being forced to reconsider their future. The University of Galway has said that of the 300 students who deferred their places this year, 92 said that accommodation was the reason. Trinity College Dublin has seen a 20% increase in deferral requests from round one of the CAO process and 10% say accommodation is the reason for that.

The case in relation to home ownership is equally dire. A recent report by the ESRI shows that home ownership among people aged 25 to 34 dropped from 60% in 2004 to just 27% in 2019. The same report projects that 50% of young people will not own their own home by the age of retirement. The Government must significantly increase the number of social and affordable houses provided and impose rent freezes for three years to give young people certainty and stop rents rising even further.

We know the cost-of-living crisis is having a devastating impact on young people - many examples have been cited already - and particularly on those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable. In a recent study of members by the National Youth Council of Ireland, 72% either agreed or strongly agreed that they saw an increase in deprivation among young people in the community as a result of the increase in the cost of living.

Youth work changes the lives of young people like building resilience, confidence and new skills to navigate life challenges, but this crisis is having an impact on the ability of organisations that support young people to provide these vital and crucial services. The new allocation of €1.16 million, a 1.6% increase, will not even cover inflation. This means that in real terms funding to these organisations has actually been reduced. Funding that should be spent on direct work with young people has to be diverted to cover rising energy, heating and food costs. At the very least, the Government must immediately address the increased overheads on heating, electricity, insurance and food by extending supports provided for community and voluntary sectors to youth work organisations as well.

The toll that this worsening crisis and the lack of effective support has had on young people's mental health cannot be understated. Record numbers of young people are seeking mental health support in the wake of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Some 1,220 young people presented to an emergency department in 2021 with a mental health issue, which marked a 40% increase in just three years. An emergency department is not the place for anyone suffering from mental ill health. Early intervention is and will continue to be key in effectively addressing mental ill health, but long waiting lists mean young people are left without the professional supports they desperately need. Figures show that there are currently 10,500 young people waiting on primary care psychology, with 4,000 waiting over a year for an appointment. With waiting lists like this, it is no wonder that young people are reporting worsening mental health and reporting to emergency departments. Unfortunately, even where support is provided it may often not be specialist support, as was the case for 115 young people who presented to the HSE for eating disorders and who were referred to non-eating-disorder specialist inpatient facilities.

Young people are in the grips of a mental health crisis. The Government provision of €14 million in additional funding for mental health is woefully inadequate in the context I have just laid out. What future is there for Ireland if we do not invest in our young people? Where will our dedicated young nurses, doctors and healthcare workers be to help to fix our broken health system? Where will the young skilled electricians, plumbers and plasterers be when more and more houses are needed to fix our housing crisis? Where will our highly trained young teachers and childcare providers have gone when we need them to educate the next generation? While the measures contained in the budget for young people are welcome - and I do welcome them - they do not go far enough to effectively address the crisis that our young people are facing. I will finish on this last sentence.