With more than half a million adults now living with their parents in Ireland, an increase more than 60,000 from 2016, many of them are making sacrifices when it comes to their romantic lives.
Having the space and privacy to lead a fulfilling romantic life can be challenging if the housing crisis has forced you to live at home.
Brian O'Connell reported to Today With Claire Byrne about this, with findings showing that adults in Dublin were found to be more likely to live with their parents at 16%, while those in Galway are least likely at 9%.
Speaking to Grace Alice O'Shea, a sex and intimacy specialist, O'Connell heard that living at home is delaying dating for some people.
"I see people say that they're holding off on dating until their living situation changes", she said. "If they're living at home with their parents, what I'm finding is, you know sometimes when we go back to our childhood home and are living with our parents again, you can kind of revert back to being in those roles you used to be in."
She added that these people feel they do not have the level of independence they would like as adults, though she noted that this can vary depending on family dynamics.
"They want to meet someone but they just feel that it's almost a lost battle to even try, because they're not going to have that space to bring someone back and chill out with them and relax."
When it comes to finding space for romance, literally, O'Shea noted that hotel prices are usually too high to allow for a romantic night away.
"There might need to just be a discussion with your parents or whoever you're living with. Everyone involved is an adult so hopefully there can be some discussion around boundaries, what's appropriate, what's not appropriate."
O'Connell spoke to Daniel, a 19-year-old man living in South Dublin with his parents who said that he doesn't feel there's any likelihood of him moving out any time soon.
"Even if I spent all of my income on moving out I don't think it would be possible", he said, adding that he couldn't name one person in his extended friend group who lives outside of the family home.
He noted that his circumstances make him more inventive when it comes to dating: "You'd probably meet someone around your area or their area and see how it goes from there. You might go into town for a few drinks but you'd never really be going to your house just because it's a bit private almost because you're living there at the same time as your whole family."
Daniel said that if the situation stayed the same in a few years' time, there would have to be a conversation with his parents.
"I feel like it would depend on how your parents are with you. Me personally, I don't think it would be a very hard conversation but for others, I can see how it definitely would be."
O'Connell noted that the lack of space or privacy at home can be particularly challenging for people who are trying to explore or understand their sexuality. "They mightn't feel ready to have their parents involved or aware of that journey they're on."
When asked for advice to young people who live at home but still want to pursue dating, O'Shea suggested that they "don't put it off completely".
"You mightn't know how long you're going to be in this situation", she added. "I see people say, I'm not going to date until I lose weight, I'm not going to date until this part of my life is sorted, and really, that's not how life works. You can't have everything slotted perfectly into place to wait to meet someone."
Finding a way to engage in dating in a way that fulfills you and works with your comfort level is one way forward.
