Gen Z? Gen B more like..burdened and bowed by bailout

They're the generation caught between Ireland's crash and comeback - born into the boom and coming of age into the recession.

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In his new book, business journalist ADAM MAGUIRE calls them The Bailout Babies and he's looked into the lives of these young people.

They're stuck in parents' bedrooms, priced out of buying or renting. But he found them to be resilient and inventive in finding ways of living and progressing.

Here, he tells what he's learned about this unique generation...

UNCERTAINTY can be exciting. The buzz of a night out with no plans; butterflies on a first date; the nerves of taking the plunge into a big decision.

But that's not the kind of uncertainty facing Ireland's young adults today.

Instead, what most of them are dealing with is a doubt that they will ever escape their parents' box room.

They have a good education, good jobs and are saving hard but they're not sure if that's enough to overcome rapidly rising house prices (up 7.5% so far this year and 47% higher since the start of Covid).

They can't even think about dating when they don't know how to bring someone home without having to introduce them to their mam on the stairs.

CRISIS