Almost a third of Irish households believe they will struggle to pay bills, says EU survey
Up to 29% of Irish households might not be able to pay ordinary bills, buy food or other important daily goods in the next 12 months, according to an EU survey.
In the past 12 months 15% of Irish households have run out of money to buy food, pay bills or some other daily expense. This is just below the EU average of 17% but well behind Romania where 43% of people have had problems.
The survey also shows that 35% of households in Ireland are having real trouble paying healthcare for their families. Of those with children who use childcare, 25% said they had problems with the costs.
There is also continued pessimism in the labour market with few feeling confident they might be able to find a new job quickly if made redundant.
Some 62% of those asked feeling it would be difficult to secure another job in the next six months if made redundant. This is high in comparison to the UK where 37% of people are optimistic about the potential to find work in the next six months if needed.
However, the survey also showed that in certain key areas like current job security and overall future financial outlook there is a more positive outlook.
Of those asked, there has been a drop from 48% to 25% of people who have an overall negative financial view of the future in the next six months.
In the last six months, those who are actively employed are less pessimistic about losing their jobs (a fall from 20% to 15% of those afraid of losing their job)
Overall only 4% of people think that it is likely they will have to move in the next 12 months, below the EU average.
This special Eurobarometer was taken in 27 EU countries during May and more than 25,000 were asked questions relating to their financial security and levels of poverty in their country.
Across the EU, citizens believe that poverty has increased in the last year at all levels, with six out of 10 believe poverty has increased in their local area. In Ireland only about 50% of people think that poverty has increased.
Speaking in Brussels, László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said: "The survey results confirm that poverty is a major issue in the EU and that the current economic and financial situation is aggravating the situation further. The crisis is taking its toll and a significant proportion of Europeans today are finding it difficult to make ends meet".
