As Ireland's justice minister refuses to dismiss the possibility of an EU bail-out, we offer a backgrounder on how the recession and crash of the property market have changed Ireland's finances beyond recognition.

For everyone in the endless dole queue in Dublin, tomorrow is full of uncertainty. Redundancy rates are booming and many rely on charities to survive. The loss of more than 10,000 jobs in Limerick alone has been compared to, "a nuclear attack on the Midwest region". Console Helpline states that many "are on the brink of ending it". Sadly these feelings may remain for some time.

Produced By SBS
Distributed By Journeyman Pictures