53% want State companies to remain public

MORE than half the public want the Government to stop selling off State-owned companies, according to a survey by the Irish Examiner/Millward Brown IMS.

The public were asked which, if any, of the ESB, Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and An Post should be privatised.

The survey revealed that 53% want all to be preserved in public ownership. Those aged over 65 were particularly vehement, with 64% opposed to any more privatisation of the State companies.

Despite surveys showing An Post is delivering only 73% of post on time, it is the State-owned company which most people want to remain public.

Women in particular are insistent on that, with only 8% saying they would agree to An Post being sold off, compared to 19% of men.

The attitude of women towards State-owned companies is reflected across the board. While 24% of men would be willing to sell off Bus Éireann, only 14% of women would be agreeable. The over-65s were the most supportive of keeping the bus company public, with only 13% in favour of privatisation.

Almost 30% of those aged 35 to 49 believe Irish Rail should be privatised. However, overall that figure drops to 24%, with only 15% of over-65s supporting its privatisation.

Of all the State-owned companies, the public would most support the sale of the ESB. Of those surveyed, 27% said they would welcome the privatisation of the company.