Survey shows Irish worry about health and wealth

HEALTH, finances and crime are the biggest concerns facing Irish people, according to a survey, which could give political parties some vital clues on policy priorities for the election.

The research among 2,000 people — on both sides of the Border — found that their single biggest worry is falling victim to ill health, cited by two-out-of-five people as their worst fear.

This health anxiety grows with people’s age and is particularly high for those aged 45 and older, with almost three-quarters of those between 55 and 64 naming it as their biggest concern.

To compound matters for Health Minister Mary Harney, the high cost of adequate healthcare was ticked by almost one-third of respondents queried about their main source of stress — with more older people listing it as their top concern.

As interest rates and inflation continue to rise, personal finances are the next biggest source of worry for Irish people, according to the Lifestyles Report published yesterday by Mintel Ireland.

After health concerns, fear of not earning enough is the biggest cloud on our minds, followed by having to watch every penny. The younger generation of adults is most affected by these worries, particularly those aged between 25 and 44, possibly reflecting those who have entered the housing market since the start of the property boom.

However, even those not yet burdened with the complications of fixed and variable interest rates are worried, with getting onto the property ladder emerging as a major concern for one-in-five people aged from 15 to 24.

The overall cost of living is a clear concern to the public, with almost half believing their salary does not go as far as it used to.

Fewer than one-in-10 Dublin residents believe their financial situation has improved in the past three years, and just 14% are comfortable with their standard of living.

More than a quarter of Irish adults cited being a victim of crime as a worry, but the level rises to 40% for those aged 65 and older.

Mintel refers to a recent EU survey in which more than one-in-five Irish people reported being victims of crime in 2004, well above the European average, while the country was also had the highest rates of assaults, sexual assaults, robberies, car thefts and personal thefts of all surveyed countries.

Despite all these worries, one-third of the people who were surveyed plan to spend their well-earned cash by getting away from it all and taking a foreign holiday this year.

One-in-five, however, the number one priority for their money will be to save it, although a similar number will splash out on home decorating.

And few of us are thinking far ahead, with only 5% making it a priority to start a pension or increase their pension contributions.