TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

Irish UN troops in Saudi Arabia in 2012 on so-called peace keeping duties somehow reinforced
the desire to cherish kith and kin.
Heritage has also always been highly prized by the Irish. Whereas such heritage had
increasingly been viewed largely as a lure to attract tourists, since about 2015 it has become
seen by all sections of society as something personal and precious – birthright. People,
especially the young, see themselves as Irish first, and as Europeans a long way behind, if at all.
Only one person out of five under 25 has ever lived abroad, even if only for a few months.
There are quite strong disparities in income, wealth and spatial placement. The poor tend to
live in the cities, while the countryside is for the richer classes. The shorter working hours and
decent salaries for some mean much longer hours and a minimum wage or less for others.
Employment legislation is more honoured in the breach than in the observance. And though, in
theory, the law generally provides the same rights for Irish citizens and for immigrants, lack of
enforcement, and the proverbial turning-of-the-blind-eye to questionable practices, lead to
frequent exploitation of workers, particularly those from abroad.
Due to an influx of immigrants during the first two decades of the century, Ireland has become a
country of many religions. Until the 2020’s, most native born Irish still regarded themselves as
Catholics, but for many it was a reference to tradition and family loyalty rather than belief.
Over the past ten years, however, there has been a strong revival of faith through the
emergence and growth of Celtic Catholicism, a blend of historic Irish legacy and modern
evangelism, particularly popular among the young.
Crime is a problem at all levels of society in Ireland. Despite a decade, and more, of tribunals
and inquiries at the turn of the century, and a period of zero tolerance during the 2010’s the
seeds of dishonesty, corruption and lawlessness have once again been sown over the past ten
years. The embracing of a free market economy, coupled with greater centralised control of
authority has somehow conspired to create fertile ground for criminal activities of all kinds.
Violence, however, is not that common, but brutal when it happens, and frequently racial in
nature, provoked invariably by the savage action of an ultra-nationalist group known as the
Warriors.
The total population in 2030 is 5.6 million, with around 2.0 million people living in the Greater
Dublin Area. Immigration ran at about 40,000 a year throughout the second decade of the
century, but in the period since 2020 the figure has fallen to around 25,000 a year due to tighter
controls and a less dynamic economy. The fertility rate, however, is up to 2.3, representing
almost 65,000 births a year, and the highest in Europe.
The health of the nation is mostly provided for by the State. Private facilities do exist but are
far outnumbered by state hospitals, community health centres and local general practitioners.
While such services are not of a very high standard, they are numerous, and offer a
comprehensive spread of cover and dedicated level of care for the nation’s aged and ageing
population.
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