The Irish, Young in ‘Old Europe,’ Strain Schools and Housing

The New York Times ^ | January 25, 2007 | By THOMAS CRAMPTON

[aculeus]

DROGHEDA, Ireland — Moving to a newly built seaside housing development north of Dublin seemed an obvious decision for Katrina Dooley and her partner.

Fast-rising property prices in the center of the city allowed them to trade their one-bedroom apartment for a three-bedroom, red-brick house in Laytown, a coastal enclave near here, within earshot of crashing waves. Central to the couple’s calculation was being able to concentrate energy and attention on their child, Ella, 5.

The problem was that hundreds of other people had the same idea, leaving a local school scrambling for space, to the point of using a basketball court as a classroom.

While many countries in Europe grapple with the difficulties associated with aging populations, Ireland and a few others face the opposite problems — and advantages — from an excess of youth.

Crowded schools, a labor crisis in child care and strained infrastructure in new commuter areas like Laytown are among the burdens faced by Ireland and other European countries at the young end of the age range.

Relatively low health care costs and a quick transition to a high-technology economy have proved to be blessings.

“Younger countries face different pressures from the rest of Europe,” said Claude Giorno, an economist in Paris who monitors Spain at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of 30 relatively prosperous nations based in Paris. “Common themes are things like a shortage of educational facilities and the doubling of housing prices, like we have seen since 1998 in Spain.”

Europe, despite something of a gray-hair image, is in reality a demographic patchwork. “Europe is definitely an aging continent, but there are a few pockets of youth,” said Antonio Missiroli, chief policy analyst at the European Policy Center, a research organization in Brussels.

[Shimmer128]

You know i don't look like that at all. I'm more like the Irish Spring commercial girl.
Oh wait, you don't have those commercials.
Oh well. you know.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Irish Spring.... is that soda water, maybe we do have them.

[Shimmer128]

Silly one, you see my picture on the forum, you know i don't really!!!

[Shimmer128]

ok you two!!!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I know that! :)

[Shimmer128]

Soap. Tell BG to bring you a bar of it. Smells great and the commercials were full of people with fake Irish accents. (and cable knit sweaters)

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I know of a case where the Mod told a couple to get a room! ;)

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Ah... someone was telling me about those commercial before!

[Shimmer128]

you wish.

[baker_girl]

Well we do get that alot.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

we do! ;)

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Yes... I'm just dying for a showdown with management! ;)

[Shimmer128]

Yeah, but i'm not. :)

[Irish_Thatcherite]

;)

[jla]

Well then, you sound lovely.

[jla]

Actually, redheads make up only a small minority of the Irish. I'd estimate that for every one hundred Irish people, ninety-four would have black or brown hair, four would be blonde, and two would have red hair.
IT would be able to give a more accurate assessment though.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

IT would be able to give a more accurate assessment though.

Jla, I think your assesment is correct.

[driftless2]

That might be so, but if you want to see a lot of redhaired people, go the Milwaukee Irish Fest.

[jla]

Is it in March? I think one of the last places I want to be at in March is Wisconsin.

[Colosis]

Thanks for the ping Irish. Did I hear enda Kenny on the radio yesterday saying that 22% of out prison population are from outside europe!! I wonder what that percentage is for prisoners who are non-Irish? Give Ireland 10 more years and we'll be every bit as much of a basket case as Gordan Browns UK is.