The Government need to look at ways of incentivising young people to stay, live and work in Ireland.
One way of doing this would be to abolish the USC (Universal Social Charge) tax for people under the age of 30.
That is according to Councillor Aisling Moran, who was speaking at the latest meeting of Laois County Council, where she called for Minister for Finance Jack Chambers to take action.
“At the moment, we are educating our young people, between apprenticeship programmes and third level education, and then they’re hopping on a plane to the likes of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and parts of Europe,” Cllr Moran said.
“They’re going to live, work, and enjoy the rest of their lives in countries where they can have a proper work/life balance.
“Countries where their salaries allow them to afford to rent of even purchase their own home.
“In Ireland, many young people live with their parents in their childhood rooms, sometimes even with their own children.
“It’s time this Government looked at ways of incentivising these young people to stay, live and work in Ireland.”
Government figures show that approximately 69,000 people emigrated from Ireland last year, the highest figure since 2015.
Almost half of those who emigrated were aged between 25 and 44.
The ongoing housing crisis is an ongoing issue in the county, particularly for younger people.
Recent European Union statistics show that 68% of people aged between 25-29 in Ireland still live at home.
This figure is nearly 26 per cent higher than the EU average of 42%.
“18-30 year olds make up about 24% of the population,” Cllr Moran said. “About 1.26 million people.
“The average wage of €45,000 would mean that the USC they pay is €1,272 per year.
“At the moment, the state brings in €5.6 billion from the USC; if the 18-30 year olds were to keep their €1,272 that would still leave the state with €4.1 billion.
“But that €1,272 on a €300,000 mortgage means that a young couple would have two month’s rent free per year.
“It’s a tax break for the next generation to give them an incentive to stay, live and work in Ireland.”
The proposal was endorsed by fellow Independent Councillors James Kelly and Ollie Clooney.
The USC was originally introduced following the 2008 financial crash and had been described as a temporary tax.
Cllr Moran’s motion comes weeks after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Apple must pay Ireland €13 billion in back taxes – a windfall the Government actually spent several years fighting to avoid.
SEE ALSO – Council chaos as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil accused of ‘not wanting transparency’
