Apathy rather than political scandal is seen as the main reason why many people do not vote in elections, according to an Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
Young people in particular have "turned off" national politics and only one-quarter of the 18-24 age group regard it as "very important" to vote in a general election.
There was an even more striking lack of interest by young people in current affairs, where only 6 per cent said they were "very interested" in day-to-day developments. By contrast, 33 per cent of pensioners were "very interested" in current affairs, while 79 per cent of them believed it was "very important" to vote in a general election. In that regard, Progressive Democrats supporters were the most committed voters, followed by Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Fianna Fail.
Thirty-one per cent of those surveyed quoted a lack of interest as the main reason they believe people would not vote, as against 18 per cent who mentioned scandals and corruption.
Asked why they thought fewer people were turning out to vote, a further 17 per cent said they thought it was because it would make no difference; 13 per cent quoted "disillusionment" and 11 per cent mentioned dissatisfaction with the Government as the likely causes for abstention.
The survey, which was conducted last September as a means of establishing a more accurate weighting of support for the political parties, found that 64 per cent of those surveyed said they "always vote".
Just 30 per cent of those in the 18-24 year age group said they always voted. This figure rose to 68 per cent in the 35-49 age group and to 88 per cent for those over 65 years of age.
Farmers, at 72 per cent, claimed to exercise their franchise most frequently. The figure fell to 70 per cent for the middle class and to 55 per cent for working-class voters.
Within the political parties, 89 per cent of Progressive Democrats supporters said they always voted, compared to 73 per cent for Fine Gael; 72 per cent for Fianna Fail and 64 per cent for the Labour Party.
Recognition of political leadership was high, with 94 per cent correctly identifying the President, Mrs McAleese; 93 per cent the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern; and 79 per cent the Tanaiste, Ms Harney. Some 76 per cent named Mr John Bruton as leader of Fine Gael, but only 56 per cent recognised the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn. Even where Labour Party supporters were concerned, some 31 per cent could not name Mr Quinn as party leader. Seventy-five per cent of those questioned knew the name of a local TD, with the highest recognition factor among Fianna Fail supporters. Some 25 per cent of those questioned could not name a local TD and this figure rose to 44 per cent among the 18-24 age group.
In all, one-third of those questioned had sought assistance with their problems from their local TD and 71 per cent were satisfied with the help they had received.
Fine Gael supporters were most contented.
On the issue of reform and a reduction in the size of the Dail, 46 per cent of those surveyed disagreed or strongly disagreed that there should be fewer but better paid TDs, while 33 per cent either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal.