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Thanks for the inside perspective - hard to get a real sense of how a country is doing from GDP/economic indicators. Wishful thinking on my part that tech wealt

Thanks for the inside perspective - hard to get a real sense of how a country is doing from GDP/economic indicators. Wishful thinking on my part that tech wealth would trickle down more effectively in Ireland than in the US. On the homelessness crisis: Amazing that housing prices in Dublin have jumped up 22.3% YoY. [1] What else do you see contributing to the rise in poverty/homelessness and the decline in living standards in Ireland? [1] http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Ireland/Price-History http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Ireland/Price-Hist...

gearoidoc 11y ago
Dublin is a different animal than the rest of Ireland because the country is very centralised there (despite some efforts to combat this). It would like measuring the average house price in the US by just measuring the BA. I can buy a house in my hometown which is well serviced by schools and more than the essentials for about €150k. The one thing that Ireland gets right is access to 3rd level education. I'm constantly floored by the amount of debt that students in North American and UK (or wherever else) pile up getting educated. I will concede that their standard of education is probably higher but, personal experience, I see very little difference in the average standard of graduate produced. Coming from a working class background, I was lucky enough to be on the grant system so would have received about €3.5k a year to attend college - it wasn't huge and I obviously had to work part time but it certainly helped. Anyway, the point I'm trying to arrive at is that the best way for a society to progress is via education and I think we're doing good (though it could be much better) at this right now.
- maccard 11y ago
  Despite there not being any fees in IrelNd, you have to pay a student contribution fee (which as a grant receiver you were exempt from) which is currently 3.5k/year and set to continue rising. Really the grant gives you more like 7k/yr as you don't have to pay that fee (which had to be paid up front in one lump sun)
rmc 11y ago
House price rises have mostly been due to the near complete decimation of the housing construction market in recently years. About 10% of houses were completed compared to 10 years ago. There is very little supply and a pent up demand. Combine that with non-existant tenant protection, and a middle class who invested in property and want/need to see some improvement in their income.

gearoidoc 11y ago

Dublin is a different animal than the rest of Ireland because the country is very centralised there (despite some efforts to combat this). It would like measuring the average house price in the US by just measuring the BA. I can buy a house in my hometown which is well serviced by schools and more than the essentials for about €150k. The one thing that Ireland gets right is access to 3rd level education. I'm constantly floored by the amount of debt that students in North American and UK (or wherever else) pile up getting educated. I will concede that their standard of education is probably higher but, personal experience, I see very little difference in the average standard of graduate produced. Coming from a working class background, I was lucky enough to be on the grant system so would have received about €3.5k a year to attend college - it wasn't huge and I obviously had to work part time but it certainly helped. Anyway, the point I'm trying to arrive at is that the best way for a society to progress is via education and I think we're doing good (though it could be much better) at this right now.

maccard 11y ago
Despite there not being any fees in IrelNd, you have to pay a student contribution fee (which as a grant receiver you were exempt from) which is currently 3.5k/year and set to continue rising. Really the grant gives you more like 7k/yr as you don't have to pay that fee (which had to be paid up front in one lump sun)

rmc 11y ago

House price rises have mostly been due to the near complete decimation of the housing construction market in recently years. About 10% of houses were completed compared to 10 years ago. There is very little supply and a pent up demand. Combine that with non-existant tenant protection, and a middle class who invested in property and want/need to see some improvement in their income.