'Reset needed': Cork TDs call for housing overhaul as report reveals 70% of 25-year-olds are living with their parents

Cork TDs have called for “a radical reset” in housing policy, as new CSO data shows that 67.8% of 25-year-olds in Cork and Kerry are still living with their parents.

The Growing Up in Ireland Report shows that nationally, 69.9% of 25-year-olds surveyed are living with their parents, and of those still living in the parental home, more than six in 10 (62.4%) were doing so for mostly financial reasons. Some 12.7% of the respondents contacted to take part in the survey had emigrated.

Labour TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny told The Echo: “I’m very disappointed to see such a stark statistic released by the CSO.

“As a 24-year-old myself, and living at home, I understand the difficulties in relation to renting or buying your own home. My friends are in the same situation.

“For far too long, young adults in Ireland have been left unrepresented. We need to see cost-rental and affordable housing built in Ireland.”

“We have a crisis in relation to housing. This new programme for government doesn’t have changes when it comes to housing policy. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are out of touch when it comes to the needs of young adults in Ireland.”

“We in the Labour Party wanted to see the establishment of a State construction company. With the State-led company, we could have seen the benefit of the State building their own homes, like Ireland did in 60s and 70s.”

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice said that the data shows “a generation who have been locked out of home ownership, with almost 70% of 25-year-olds still stuck in their childhood bedrooms”.

“The Government has failed to provide affordable housing options for young people. As rents soar and houses become more and more unaffordable, people have no choice but to stay living at home,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the new programme for government will bring little comfort to those seeking to buy or rent in Ireland.

“The policies of the new Government are the same as the last. They have ignored the calls from the Housing Commission for a radical re-set in housing policy, and instead opted for more of the same.

'PREVENTED FROM LEADING INDEPENDENT LIVES'

“At the moment, too many young people are prevented from leading independent lives, and some couples have been forced to delay plans to start a family of their own.

“Year-on-year house prices nationally have risen by 9%. The cost of an average house in Cork is now about €350,000. This is well beyond the reach of most young people. As a result, homeownership rates are falling. It doesn’t have to be like this.”

A report by the Cork Simon Community last year showed that more than one in 10 single adults new to emergency accommodation in the South-West became homeless due to a relationship breakdown with a parent.

Report author Sophie Johnston previously told The Echo: “Younger adults are over-represented in homelessness services”, adding that this age group is also likely to be either living with parents or in private rental accommodation, both of which can be precarious and lead to homelessness.

Ms Johnston said: “While there are, no doubt, benefits and positives to living at home, and many parents and adult children will manage the relationship well, this type of doubled-up housing can add pressure to households, challenge relationships, and is inherently insecure for adult children.”