One in three young Irish plan to emigrate

A poll has shown that as many as one third of men aged between 18 and 24 plan to flee Ireland within 12 months.

The current downturn, at least four years of austerity budgets and high unemployment - particular among young workseekers - are combining to convince large numbers of young Irish to move abroad in search of employment and a brighter future.

In the 25-34 year old age bracket, 25 per cent of those surveyed planned to quit the country. This figure compares with just 2 per cent of those aged over 65.

People from Munster were found to be the least likely to go. Overall, 8 per cent from the province plan to leave compared to 16 per cent of those surveyed who are based in Dublin.

Figures for the twelve months up to April of this year show that 65,300 emigrated, the highest level since the 80s.

Other results of the same survey, conducted by the Irish Examiner and Lansdowne Millward Brown, showed that two thirds believe they'll be worse off this time next year. Only 9 per cent believe they'll be better off.

42 per cent believe that their savings are not safe.

On the positive side of things, 60 per cent of those questioned still believe that, despite all that's going on, Ireland is still a good country to live in.