ESRI confirms Irish welfare dependent population is TWICE that of Germany or France

I'm sure you realise that, for example, in Dublin you can earn the national average wage and still be eligible for social housing. I'm glad in this country. We look after those who need our help and I have no problem with my taxes going towards helping those who need it. Personally I feel we need a massive government funded housing programme that replaces private property and every house should be built to the highest standard in order to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment.

But by all means be like other posters here and continue to punch down on those less fortunate while ignoring all of the waste and corruption that goes on at the top of so-called civil society. I will only support a crackdown on social welfare when the government closes all of the loopholes that the rich used to avoid paying their fair share.

Given my background I see a lot. Both parents were youngest in big families so some of my first cousins are already grandparents.

In the last 10 years, and this is no exaggeration, 75%+ of my cousins who aren't working have had their kids diagnosed ADHD. I can think of half a dozen others who got council houses within a year or turning 18. I know plenty are on the sick, one who was working under the table in a pub (50+ hours a week) then got on the sick.

My sister used to believe the "no such thing as a free house" thing. But as I said, her and her mates are hitting their 30s, couple of mates she went to school with don't work, both have a kid or 2 and literally a brand new house for one of them. Well, almost new. It was rented to someone before for about 18 months. And because of that they got 3 new beds, new sitting room furniture and kitchen appliances. Obviously her and her fella had to "pay their way". Yeah 100 quid towards about €5k of stuff. The rest of her friends, mostly met in college, are trying their best to get on a deeds to a property before they then start trying to have a kid.

I've seen it the whole time growing up. Kids with scum parents who never lifted a finger but the parents would go crying to the dispensary and send them off to the Gaeltacht for the summer. Unfortunately my parents had a bit more pride.

I saw cousins who dropped out of school get all expenses paid trips to the States and Canada to work/train for a while. They got paid for it, all costs covered and their dole was sitting building up for them when they got home. But if I don't find a government doc showing it then it never happened right?

As I was saying earlier about standards of living... there is no justification for spending like we do on "the poor". If you're not working then a 2nd hand sofa will do. I make about the average wage and have to pay my own rent so in my current place I got the cheapest bed and mattress I could and got a 2nd hand sofa for 50 quid. That's life. Since when should everyone be entitled to brand-new **** just because they want it?

I see the moaning on Facebook. The "this is disgrace" when they're expected to pay for or do something themselves. I see (literally) grannies in their 20s and more in their 30s having offspring who despite growing up in welfare situations have a nice place to live, better clothes, toys and electronics than anyone I speak to on a regular basis.