Despair over housing and health drives young to emigrate, says SocDem leader
SOCIAL Democrats leader Holly Cairns has claimed that generations of despairing young people have been forced to emigrate because they have no hope of owning their own home or availing of a proper health service.
In her maiden speech as party leader at the party’s annual conference last night, she accused Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour party of failing to meet even the most basic needs for a home and a working health service.
Addressing delegates at University College Dublin, Ms Cairns said: ‘Lately, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the idea of a better Ireland. And more especially, [I’ve been thinking] I suppose about the increasing number of people out there who have lost hope in the possibility of that. Who feel the country is no longer working for them.
‘I think this disillusionment comes from a profound disconnect – between where we are as a country and where we should be.
‘A disconnect between a GDP per capita that makes us one of the richest countries in the world, and 4,000 children growing up in emergency accommodation. Between full employment and half a million adults currently living in their childhood bedrooms.’
The Cork South-West TD then questioned how a country could have an Exchequer surplus of €8bn, and yet still have ‘over 600,000 people living in poverty’.
‘Is it any wonder people feel disillusioned?’ she asked.
‘Ireland is a rich country. We should be able to provide a future for our young people. But instead we are stuck in a decades-old cycle of shoving generation after generation after generation onto boats and planes to the UK, Australia, America and Canada.
‘Because government after government after government have failed to provide even the very basics – like a roof over people’s heads or a health service that’s fit for purpose.’