WHILE THERE HAS been great resistance over recent months to water charges – it seems a lot of people are willing to pay out if the money is going to the right places.
New research has found that half of all Irish people are willing to pay higher taxes if it would guarantee better quality public services.
The poll was carried out by social awareness think-tank TASC and asked people for their views on the levels of equality across Ireland.
The new figures show a growth in the sentiment from 2010 – when only 35% of individuals said that they would be willing to pay more tax.
Equality
As part of the study it was found that more than 90% of respondents were in favour of increasing the minimum wage or introducing a maximum in an effort to close the gap between Ireland’s lowest and highest earners.
It was also found that more than eight out of 10 people in Ireland feel that income is unfairly distributed. This came after individuals were informed that the incomes of the top 10% in Ireland are 7.5 times greater than those on the lowest incomes.
Speaking about the results, research director with TASC, Nat O’Connor, said, “what sets this poll apart is that it asks people directly if they, themselves, are willing to pay more taxes, as opposed to being willing for someone else to pay.”
Minimum wage
The number of people who supported an increase in the minimum wage stood at 84%, which was an increase from 65% in 2010.
There was also a level of support for a “maximum wage” – with 55% thinking that it would be a good idea.
From the respondents, 46% thought that both measures should be introduced while 7% thought that neither should be introduced.
The minimum wage is currently set at €8.65, which is almost €3 below the living wage – which has been calculated at €11.45.
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