The Central Statistics Office revealed that despite displaying a high degree of mutual trust among Irish residents, trust levels towards political parties and the news media remain significantly low. The nationwide survey demonstrated that 82.5% of participants expressed trust in most individuals, marking a rise from 78% in 2021.
Interestingly, a higher level of trust was exhibited by the older demographic compared to younger participants. Furthermore, the study highlighted that 92.5% of participants theorised that if a neighbour found their lost wallet or purse containing €100 and personal identification, it would be returned. In contrast, only 40% of participants anticipated the same outcome if found by an unknown individual.
Both local and national government trust levels have seen a decrease since 2021’s primary survey. Of the survey participants, 41.5% still expressed trust in their local government, whereas 46.6% held trust in their national government. Despite this dip, the figures were noticeably higher than the international average of 39% trust in national governments from 30 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
The news media’s trust rating in Ireland has improved since 2021, with 47% of participants voicing trust, a rise from the previous year’s 42%. Furthermore, Gardaí (70%), legal services and courts (69%), the Civil Service (66%) and international organisations (64%) are all held in considerable esteem by the Irish society.
Participants were also questioned about their comfort levels in leaving a key to their homes with a neighbour for emergencies, such as being locked out. Approximately half of the respondents felt extremely comfortable with this notion.
Nevertheless, a comparative OECD survey of 30 developed countries indicated a growing lack of trust for national governments. 44% expressed low to non-existent confidence, overtaking the 39% who maintain a high to moderately high level of trust.
Sharing his thoughts on the study’s results, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, pointed out that Ireland enjoys a relatively higher level of trust compared to other nations. He highlighted that trust is a crucial factor to garner support for governmental policies and the operations of civic bodies. Donohoe expressed his elation over the fact that Ireland is doing well on these fronts, especially concerning public trust in institutions.
However, he was quick to acknowledge that public trust is a multifaceted issue and that this report would aid in gaining better insights into areas where public confidence is high, where improvements could be made, and what actions could further strengthen the public’s trust in the government.