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Last Thursday, two dedicated Leaving Cert students from Milford Convent, organised a heated debate for over 50 of their peers, all of whom are registered to vote in Ireland’s upcoming elections. The debate brought together seven electoral candidates eager to answer questions on how to address the issues most pressing to young people today.
As the debate kicked off, a question was asked “how many of the students planned to leave Ireland after completing their education?#8221; Over 50% of the students raised their hands. This stark reality highlights the growing concern that many Irish students feel they cannot afford to live in their home country, due to soaring living costs and an increasingly unaffordable housing market.
Among the candidates was Independent candidate Gerry McKeever, who later visited Carndonagh Community School to speak with a small class of five Leaving Cert Politics students.
When McKeever asked the same question, how many of the students planned to leave Ireland, every one of the students raised their hands. However, when asked if they would want to return in the future, all nodded in agreement. The desire to come home was clear, but the question remains: How do we bring them back?
The Housing Solution: Affordable, A-Rated Modular Homes
Gerry McKeever believes the solution lies in one word: affordable housing. He has been researching alternatives to traditional housing, such as A-rated modular homes, which offer a practical and cost effective way to address Ireland’s housing shortage. One option McKeever highlights is a 1,300 sq. ft modular home, with an A2 energy rating and a price of €101,000. With a mortgage of just €920 per month over 20 years, this could provide young people with an affordable path to homeownership.
However, McKeever stresses that building 100,000 of these homes annually will require a radical shift in government policy. Specifically, he calls for substantial investment in critical infrastructure, including water, the electricity grid, and sewage systems. Additionally, he advocates for a relaxation of Ireland’s stringent planning regulations to make large scale construction projects possible.
A Call for Change in Government Policy
McKeever points to schools in Milford and Carndonagh as snapshots of the wider issues facing Ireland today. While policies like the Help to Buy scheme may offer temporary relief, they have done little to address the root causes of the housing crisis, which continues to escalate year after year.
“We need a complete reboot of our housing system,” McKeever asserts. “Tweaks to government policy are not enough. Every tweak and scheme the government initiates seems to be inflationary and do not help Irish families. We need bold, visionary change that allows hard working people to build and buy homes that are affordable. Young people are being priced out of the market, and many of them are leaving. We must create the conditions for them to come back home.”
McKeever believes that “the government must stop getting in our way” and allow individuals to take responsibility for their own futures. “There are hardworking people out there who earn too much to qualify for social housing but too little to secure a mortgage,” he says. “They just want the chance to help themselves. We can’t keep waiting for the government to solve this for us. We need to give our young people the opportunity to come home and that starts with affordable housing.”
A Brighter Future for Ireland
For McKeever, this isn’t just about policy, it’s about the future of Ireland itself. “Parents in Donegal or in Ireland shouldn’t have to watch their children and grandchildren grow up on a phone or computer screen. We need to create a system where they can live, work, and raise families right here in Ireland.”
The time for change is now. With affordable housing, a shift in planning policies, and the ability for individuals to invest in their futures, Ireland can reverse the trend of emigration and create a thriving environment for the next generation to grow, stay, and build their homes.
For more information on Gerry McKeever’s policies and campaign, follow him on his social media platforms.
Contact: Gerry McKeever
Phone: 089 260 5511
Email: gerrygolac@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GerryMcKeeverDonegalVoteNumberOneForTD
Instagram: gerrymckeeverdonegal
TikTok: @gmac3576