Something that your kids might learn is the grass is always greener on the other side.
I like Ireland, I enjoy the company of friends and family, I enjoy the interactions with people every day, I always enjoy what the countryside has to offer, I also enjoy the facilities for sport that are around me.
I don't have kids yet, but there are plenty of nieces and nephews on both sides, and all seem to be enjoying a good education, just as I did.
People can continue to learn and live here.
I too like the company of friends and family, including those who have left and are planning to leave this country. Ireland has some great countryside, but much of it pales in comparison to landscapes in places like France, not to mention our 6 month winter. As for sports facilities, we are third rate at best when compared to other developed countries.
Our education standards continue to slide....children will have plenty of opportunities to 'enjoy' sub-standard education.
My home is where my children are, and their home is where their parents are.
If we can provide a better quality of life, in a more stable society/economy, and one with better weather into the bargain - then its a 'no brainer'.
Hanging around here until we crawl out of this hole in 5-10 years time, only to fall back into another one, makes no sense. Look at our history as a state - 1920s& 1930s were grim,1940s were a bit better (thanks to war time stimulus), 1950s were a disaster, 1960s were a mixed bag, as were the 1970s, the 1980s were horrific, and the 1990s were pretty good -for the second 5 years of that decade. As for the last decade - a real mix of the good, the bad, and the very ugly. The next decade is set to be a lost decade.
Who in their right mind would voluntarily sign-up for life to a country that is subject to such poor governance,corruption, mediocrity and utterly predictable and regular economic crisis.......maybe they are the people who have maintained FF n power for most of the history of this state......and such people can't have a 'right mind'...