Poll finds half of respondents felt no benefit from the economic upturn

The Coalition’s appeal to ‘keep the recovery going’ has been challenged by an opinion poll which found more than half of respondents said they had felt no economic benefit from the economic upturn.

While the poll found that 44% felt they had experienced some benefit from the recovery, almost double that figure — 79% — said they believed the recovery was based on two tiers in society.

There was some succour for Fine Gael and Labour in the findings that 61% believe the recovery is here to stay for the next five years, and in the fact that 33% of those questioned said they wanted the universal social charge (USC) scrapped — a pledge made by Fine Gael in the run-up to the election. This week, Labour said that it would abolish the USC for all low and middle-income earners.

The poll of more than 1,000 adults was conducted by Red C for Newstalk, and was conducted between February 8 and February 11 — chiming with the first of the leaders’ debates.

The poll highlights some of the issues exercising voters, but also highlights the differences in priorities between the 56% who want to see more public expenditure, and the 44% who want tax cuts.

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In the former category, 36% of all those questioned want increases in public service spending, while 20% want a reduction a reduction in the national debt.

As for those who want tax cuts, one third of all those polled said they wanted the USC scrapped, with another 10% demanding tax cuts elsewhere.

There is also strong support on key issues affecting both rural and urban areas. So while 94% of those questioned want the next government to bring in incentives for businesses creating jobs in rural Ireland, 86% said efforts should be made to promote long-term rental agreements to help ease the housing crisis.

People also want more affordable childcare and an easing of Central Bank rules on mortgage lending.

Of those questioned, 83% believe that tax relief on childcare costs should be introduced here, while 77% feel mortgage regulations should be reviewed to help first time buyers and trade-ups in the housing sector. On social housing, just over three quarters of those polled said there should be a restoration of rules dictating that one in every five new properties in developments should be for social housing.

Just over one third of those questioned said returning emigrants should get the benefit of a preferential tax rate.

The poll is sure to sharpen minds ahead of the next leaders’ debate, with polling day just over a week away.

Richard Colwell, CEO Red C Research, said: “While the Government keeps extolling the need to ‘keep the recovery going’, the reality is that well over half of the population still feel that they haven’t actually felt the impact of any recovery personally.

“It is no surprise then that most adults believe that any economic recovery has been on a two-tier basis.”

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