The "Public Perceptions" poll was carried out by Ipsos/MRBI on behalf of The Irish Times. Its purpose was to examine the public's knowledge of some of the key facts of Irish life, to assess how the events of recent years have affected our perceptions of Ireland, and to gauge the electorate's awareness of how taxes are spent. The poll also explores how we view our country as a place to live. Here we present a summary of the public's perceptions, and compare them with the reality of the situations they were asked about.
Kevin O'Sullivan, Irish Times Editor
Q.1
What income does a person have to earn before tax, per year, to be in the top 10% of income earners in Ireland? Please note that income includes earnings, pensions, investments and welfare benefits.
Average answer given: €153,000
Correct answer: €75,000
Q. 2
What percentage of the total income tax intake do you think is paid to the Revenue by the top 10 per cent of income earners in Ireland?
Average answer given: 28%
Correct answer: 59%
Q.3
Which of the following groups receive the most from the public purse in terms of direct payments to them?
Answers given
Welfare recipients: 25%
Public servants: 26%
Politicians: 48%
Don’t know: 2%
Correct answer: Welfare recipients
Q.4
Which of the following groups get the biggest portion of Department of Social Protection (ie Welfare) spending?
Answers given
The unemployed: 62%
Pensioners: 16%
Child benefit recipients: 17%
Don’t know: 5%
Correct answer: Pensioners
Q.5
The United Nations Human Development Index rates 186 countries in the world in terms of the best places to live on the basis of wealth, health, education, happiness and safety. In 2013 Norway was in first place and Niger was in last place. Where do you think Ireland ranked?
Average answer given: 35th
Correct answer: 7th
Q.6
Which of the following groups has suffered the largest decline in their disposable income during the recession?
Answers given
People aged 0-17: 5%
People aged 18-64: 81%
People aged 65+: 14%
Don’t know: 1%
Correct answer: 18-64
Q.7
Has the number of medical cards issued in the country increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 39%
Decreased: 50%
Stayed the same: 8%
Don’t know: 3%
Correct answer: Increased
Has the number of people left waiting on trolleys in hospital A&E departments increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 66%
Decreased: 18%
Stayed the same: 15%
Don't know: 2%
Correct answer: Increased
Have general hospital waiting lists increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 72%
Decreased: 14%
Stayed the same: 13%
Don’t know: 1%
Correct answer: Decreased
Has the crime rate increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 68%
Decreased: 14%
Stayed the same: 16%
Don’t know: 1%
Correct answer: Decreased
Has the murder rate (the number of murders per head of population) increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 61%
Decreased: 17%
Stayed the same: 19%
Don’t know: 3%
Correct answer: Decreased
Have politicians’ salaries increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 42%
Decreased: 34%
Stayed the same: 22%
Don’t know: 2%
Correct answer: Decreased
Has the amount paid by the Department of Social Welfare increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 48%
Decreased: 39%
Stayed the same: 12%
Don’t know: 1%
Correct answer: Increased
Has the amount paid for public sector pensions increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 31%
Decreased: 46%
Stayed the same: 19%
Don’t know: 3%
Correct answer: Increased
Have public sector employment numbers increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past five years?
Increased: 12%
Decreased: 69%
Stayed the same: 15%
Don’t know: 3%
Correct answer: Decreased
Q.8
Out of every 100 people in Ireland about how many do you think are Catholic?
Average answer given: 67%
Correct answer: 84%
Out of every 100 people in Ireland about how many do you think are atheist?
Average answer given: 19%
Correct answer: 9%
Out of every 100 people in Ireland about how many do you think are foreign nationals?
Average answer given: 25%
Correct answer: 12%
Out of every 100 people in Ireland about how many do you think live in the county they were born in?
Average answer given: 50%
Correct answer: 62%
Out of every 100 people in Ireland about how many do you think log into Facebook daily?
Average answer given: 63%
Correct answer: 37%
Out of every 100 people in Ireland about how many do you think log into Twitter daily?
Average answer given: 50%
Correct answer: 10%
