Public seeking more action as rises in cost of living bite, poll shows

Almost half of voters say the rising cost of living has made things "a lot more difficult", and there is an overwhelming support for the Government to take further actions to relieve the burden, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll.

In the responses to a series of questions, voters said they wanted taxes on electricity and fuel cut, pay and welfare increases and the scheduled increases in the carbon tax next month to be postponed.

The poll reveals how cost-of-living increases are affecting almost everyone and have become a key political challenge for the Government.

The vast majority of people said they were affected to some degree by rising costs: 46 per cent said it had made it “a lot more difficult to manage financially”, while a further 41 per cent said it had become “a little more difficult”. Twelve per cent said they were not having any difficulties.

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Those in the least well-off cohorts were most likely to say they were feeling the squeeze, with more than half of voters in the C2 and DE classes reporting that they were finding it a lot more difficult to manage. By contrast, just over a quarter (27 per cent) said they were finding it a lot more difficult.

There are huge majorities in favour of more Government action, though the Coalition announced further cost-of-living measures on Wednesday while the sampling process took place on Monday and Tuesday.

Asked whether they agreed or disagreed with a series of statements, there was overwhelming support for options to cut costs and boost incomes.

Energy taxes

Asked if they agreed that the Government “should further cut taxes on electricity and fuel to help people deal with cost-of-living increases”, 93 per cent said they agreed. On the suggestion that “pay and welfare should be increased to match increases in the cost of living”, 81 per cent said they agreed, with just 13 per cent disagreeing.

And 88 per cent agreed that “the Government should postpone next month’s scheduled carbon tax increase on fuel until fuel prices come down”.

The Government has already taken a series of measures this year to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, including a €200 general credit on electricity bills and reductions in excise on petrol and diesel.

It unveiled the latest package on Wednesday when it said it would temporarily cut VAT on gas and electricity from 13.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent between May 1st and October 31st. The cost of this measure is estimated at €46 million. These measures will offset the scheduled increases in carbon taxes which will kick in from the end of April, according to the Government.

But the Opposition has called for more action.

Despite surging inflation having a very real impact on standards of living in Ireland, the Ipsos poll this week shows satisfaction with the Government has held steady, at 43 per cent.

Polling by Ipsos shows cost-of-living increases, particularly in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, are replacing Covid-19 as one of the things that are of most concern globally.

Covid restrictions

The poll also shows there is sharp division over the future of Covid restrictions, with the country split down the middle on the issue. Fifty-three per cent of respondents agreed that “the Government should consider reintroducing Covid restrictions such as mask wearing to deal with the current wave of infections”, with 43 per cent disagreeing.

The is also a strong appetite among those who began working from home during Covid to continue with a mixture of home and office work, suggesting that for many people the pandemic has changed their working habits permanently.

The poll was conducted among 1,200 adults at 120 sampling points across all constituencies on April 11th and 12th. Respondents were interviewed at their own homes. The accuracy is estimated at plus or minus 2.8 per cent.