The ongoing struggle for public focus between the issues of immigration and housing persists, with the latest survey showing a slight preference towards immigration. In response to what governmental action has recently made them believe the country’s trajectory is correct or not, immigration was the primary mention for 21 per cent of participants, a 5 per cent increase from the previous survey.
The latest Snapshot survey conducted from the 1st to the 14th of August included a nationally representative sample of Irish adults aged 15 and older. The majority opinion indicates a sense of dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of immigration, as negative comments significantly outnumber the positive. Comprehensive analysis of responses from the recent Snapshot surveys offers a transparent view of public sentiment towards this critical matter.
The public’s primary worry is the nation’s potential inability to manage the swift and extensive rate of immigration. The government’s perceived inability to handle this crisis is portrayed by a participant who commented, “no issues with [immigrants and refugees] but there seems to be no structured approach to these people….you can’t accommodate 1000s of people and have no plan”.
The pressure on our housing system to support a constantly growing immigrant population represents a frequently mentioned practical challenge. Some participants attribute this hardship for young Irish seeking to rent or buy a house to governmental immigration policies.
Emerging themes also highlight potential negative impacts due to a lack of structured approach or enforcement. Words such as “undocumented”, “uncontrolled”, and “unvetted” frequently appear in participant comments.
On a positive note, the analysis shows pockets of favourable attitudes towards the government. A considerable number of respondents recognised Ireland’s welcoming approach to asylum seekers and refugees, stating, “I appreciate that they and the other parties acknowledge the necessity to provide help.”
For nearly one fifth of participants (19 per cent, a decrease of 1 point), housing is the foremost concern. Housing is the most significant concern for females (22 per cent) and those from middle-class backgrounds (23 per cent) as opposed to immigration.
The correlation between housing concerns and age is significant, with individuals under the age of 35 being twice as likely to highlight it compared to those over the age of 55 (standing at 23 per cent and 12 per cent respectively). Across all regions and constituencies, housing and immigration top the concern lists, albeit the emphasis differs with housing being particularly prominent in Dublin, and immigration concerns dominating outside the capital.
Social policies are third in line, attracting 5 per cent of mentions, showing a generally positive sentiment as the public acknowledges the benefits of increased investment for pensions, parents, and children. Notations referring to the budget and public spending (3 per cent) also tilt towards the positive aspect, along with education (3 per cent), where statements like “hot meals and free books” are commonly mentioned.
Healthcare/HSE (4 per cent), crime/gardaí (3 per cent) and cost-of-living/inflation (3 per cent) still remain conversation topics. However, the sentiment surrounding them is generally negative, with remarks such as “healthcare system is a joke”, “laws are too lenient” and “prices are too high”. Certain major issues like climate change/sustainability and the Palestine/Israel conflict (both 2 per cent) do not dominate the conversation at the moment and have witnessed their mention rates hit an all-time low recently.
It’s unfortunate for the Government that our Olympic medal victory far outshines any recognition of the State’s contribution to our success in Paris, with merely two individuals attributing the medals to sports funding in Ireland. The summer break is generally quiet in terms of political activity, providing little chance for the Government to alter the prevailing narrative. However, things may shift in the upcoming months with the budget announcement and potential general elections on the horizon.