By Charlie Weston

Copyright independent

A poll commissioned by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) found that rent and accommodation costs are the single greatest financial challenges for adults under the age of 25.

A poll the NYCI commissioned from Red C found four in five young people feel negatively affected by rising costs.

Three in five under-25s are considering emigration, with almost one in three strongly considering leaving Ireland to seek a better quality of life abroad.

NYCI director of policy and advocacy Kathryn Walsh said: “This isn’t just about hardship – it’s about young people feeling like Ireland is no longer a place where they can build a future. We need Budget 2026 to be a turning point.”

The housing crisis has left many young adults at breaking point, the youth organisation said. Eight out of 10 respondents said it was affecting them disproportionately – an increase from last year.

Among full-time students, 94pc cite rent and accommodation as a financial burden.

These responses support NYCI’s call for dedicated funding for a new Youth Homelessness Strategy from next January.

Youth homelessness has increased by 30pc since the current strategy was launched.

Other financial pressure points cited by young people include education fees, the cost of groceries and daily essentials and healthcare.

These figures reflect a growing sense of disillusionment and urgency

The research shows 70pc of the public across all age groups agree that young people are disproportionately affected by rising costs. Most believe the Government is not doing enough to support them. Only 13pc believe youth needs are being adequately addressed.

Ms Walsh said: “Young people are facing financial pressures across the board. We must stop penalising them for their age. Equalising welfare rates and abolishing sub-minimum wages are not just economic measures – they are statements of fairness.”

Eight out of 10 young people say they are fearful for the future, and two-thirds believe they would enjoy a better quality of life outside Ireland.

“These figures reflect a growing sense of disillusionment and urgency,” Ms Walsh said.

She said it cannot be assumed that all young people had family support to fall back on.

Marginalised groups, such as Travellers, migrants, disabled youth, LGBTQ+ young people and those in disadvantaged communities, are especially vulnerable, she said, and “they need targeted supports, not assumptions”.

In a pre-budget submission, the NYCI called for the equalising of jobseeker’s allowance for under-25s, the abolition of the sub-minimum wage rates for young workers, the ringfencing of dedicated funding for a successor to the Youth Homelessness Strategy, and more funding for youth mental health services through the HSE Action Plan.

Other demands include permanently reducing third-level fees, abolishing apprentice contributions, and free public transport for under-25s.

Ms Walsh said a failure to act now would risk losing a generation of talent and resilience to emigration and exclusion.