Despite all the fanfare, the government’s massive giveaway budget doesn’t seem to have reassured the public who have preoccupied with cost of living crisis concerns, at least according to polling carried out for the Sunday Independent.
Only 27% of those polled by Ireland Thinks for the paper believed they will be better off after the Budget, with almost half (49pc) of the public thinking they will be the same, while 24pc feel they will be worse off.
The government had flagged its €10 billion budget as a containing measures which would help stave off the worst of the energy and cost of living escalations, but the voters polled did not seemed reassured.
The three €200 energy credits was a popular measure according to the poll, but a majority (51pc) would have preferred to see a cap on energy bills – as was introduced in the UK.
Poll – Ireland Thinks / Sunday Independent
Q: "Do you agree with the Government's decision not to cap energy bills but instead to provide three credits of €200 each for household energy bills this winter"
No: 51%
Yes: 37%
Unsure: 12%October 2022
— Ireland Votes | #Vote2024 (@Ireland_Votes) October 2, 2022
The 10% concrete levy, which the government says it will use to fund mica redress scheme was found to be unpopular in the poll, with 59% opposing the measure while just 27% agreed and 14% were unsure.
A huge majority of voters felt that the Budget had left them with ‘no difference’ or ‘more worried’ about their financial situation – bad news for the government parties who were hoping for a Budget bounce in polling.
Poll – Ireland Thinks / Sunday Independent
Q: "Following the Budget, are you:"
More worried about my financial situation: 32%
Less worried about my financial situation: 16%It has made no difference to my financial situation: 52%
October 2022
— Ireland Votes | #Vote2024 (@Ireland_Votes) October 2, 2022
In fact, voting intentions recorded for the poll showed no shift upwards for the larger government parties beyond the margin of error.
POLL – Dáil Éireann
Ireland Thinks / Sunday Independent
SF: 37% (+1)
FG: 21% (nc)
FF: 17% (+1)
PBP-S: 4% (-1)
GP: 4% (+2)
SD: 3% (-1)
LP: 3% (nc)
AÚ: 3% (nc)
I/O: 8% (-3)September 30-October 1, 2022
Sample: 1,254
MoE: 2.8%— Ireland Votes | #Vote2024 (@Ireland_Votes) October 1, 2022
A significant majority would vote Yes in a referendum to establish a united Ireland if it took place tomorrow, the poll found, with 57% in favour, 24% opposed and 19% unsure.
Poll – Ireland Thinks / Sunday Independent
Q: "How would you vote if a referendum took place *tomorrow* on a United Ireland?"
In favour: 57%
Opposed: 24%
Unsure: 19%October 2022
— Ireland Votes | #Vote2024 (@Ireland_Votes) October 2, 2022