More voters want the Government to spend additional money generated by the economic boom on health, education and other public services than want taxes reduced, according to the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
Almost one-third of voters - 31 per cent - want the Government to use the increased revenue on public services while some 21 per cent want the Government to reduce the 24 per cent tax rate compared to 9 per cent who want the top 46 per cent rate cut.
A total of 15 per cent list the development of the State's infrastructure - roads, railways, and telecommunications system - as their top priority.
The poll, which was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 electors at 100 sampling points in all constituencies last Tuesday and Wednesday, presents an interesting indicator of voters' priorities in advance of the National Plan and next month's budget. It also reveals a society deeply divided.
Some 78 per cent of voters feel the country is now better off than it was five years ago; 15 per cent the same; and 7 per cent say it is less well off. However, only 43 per cent feel they are better off. Among those are 54 per cent of the ABC1 socio-economic group, 51 per cent and 50 per cent in the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups respectively, but only 39 per cent of working-class people.
Some 15 per cent of voters, one-third of farmers among them, think they are less well off than they were five years ago and 42 per cent believe their position is unchanged.
In the wake of Thursday's decision by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to enter talks on a successor to Partnership 2000, the poll shows that 78 per cent of voters view social partnership as important.
In London yesterday the Taoiseach expressed satisfaction with the results of the Irish Times/MRBI poll, even though a majority of voters said they were dissatisfied with the Government's performance. He said the poll findings were "fine", given the recent industrial dispute by nurses.
He denied the Government's fall in popularity was linked to the tribunals. "The tribunals were going full go in May before the drop in the polls. This Government is going to continue to do well," he said.
The poll showed 47 per cent of voters were dissatisfied with the Government's performance compared to 46 per cent satisfied and 7 per cent undecided.
