27% of the adults in Ireland suffer from an allergy with 16% suffering from Hay Fever.

iReach Insights Press Release

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31st May 2019

27% of the adults in Ireland suffer from an allergy with 16% suffering from Hay Fever.

Most common allergies: 1. Pollen (59%), 2. House dust mites (30%), 3. Food allergies (25%), 4. Animals (14%), 5. Drug allergies (14%).

80% have never done an allergy test.

35% of those who suffer form allergies feel restrictions on their daily life.

Top 3 restrictions: 1. Feeling permanently sick/unwell (69%), 2. Drug intake (65%), 3. Not being able to do sport outside (25%).

59% find that most restaurants are well prepared for people with food allergies.

Summertime is known as Hay Fever season. With this in mind, iReach Insights conducted a nationally representative survey on 1,001 adults in Ireland on how they are affected by allergies.

This research reveals that every fourth (27%) adult in Ireland suffers from an allergy. Most common allergies are: 1. Pollen (59%), 2. House dust mites (30%), 3. Food allergies (25%), 4. Animals (14%), 5. Drug allergies (14%). However, it is possible that even more people are affected, as 80% have never done an allergy test.

67% of those suffering from an allergy take remedies or medication for it, and 22% indicated that their allergy has become even worse over time.

During pollen season, 54% of the adults in Ireland suffering from a pollen allergy need to take permanently drugs to prevent allergic reactions. Despite this fact, the majority of them (65%) doesn’t feel restricted in their daily life. However, the ones that do stated that this is mainly because they permanently feel sick/unwell (69%), they must take drugs (65%) or can’t do sport outside (25%).

Furthermore, 67% believe that more people than ever before have allergies. As a result of this growing demand, 59% find that most restaurants are well prepared for people with food allergies. Moreover, half of the adults in Ireland (50%) indicated that they do try and avoid some food for health reasons even though they are not allergic to it. 

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 9th May to the 16th May and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants:

Do you suffer from any allergies?

What kind of allergies do you have?

Have you ever done an allergy test?

Do you take any remedies or medication for your allergies?

Over time, have your allergy/ allergies become better or worse?

During pollen season, do you permanently take any drugs to prevent allergic reactions?

During the pollen season, do you experience any kind of restrictions in your daily life because of your allergy?

Which of the following are you restricted in?

Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

93% of the adults in Ireland go on holiday each year with an average annual spend of over €2,500 generating €9 billion in spend on travel annually.

iReach Insights Press Release

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29th May 2019

93% of the adults in Ireland go on holiday each year with an average annual spend of over €2,500 generating €9 billion in spend on travel annually. .  The majority (59%) has already been to more than 7 different countries. Average annual spend: over €2500; Total travel expenses: almost €9 Billion. Top 5 travel destinations abroad: 1. Spain (35%), 2. Portugal (18%), 3. England (15%), 4. Italy (10%), and 5. America (9%).  Top 5 travel destinations in Ireland: 1. Galway (34%), 2. Kerry (32%), 3. Dublin (24%), 4. Cork (23%), 5. Mayo (17%). The official summer start is the 21st of June. The long-awaited summer months are no longer too far away. With this in mind, iReach Insights conducted a nationally representative survey on 1,001 adults in Ireland on their summer holiday plans and general travel preferences. This research reveals that 93% of the adults in Ireland go on holiday at least once a year. As a result of this high travel rate, the majority (59%) have already been to more than 7 different countries. Top 5 most travelled destinations are 1. Europe (95%), 2. Ireland (78%), 3. North America (55%), 4. Asia (26%) and 5. Africa (21%). Furthermore, the majority of Irish travellers chooses to stay in a hotel (82%). Less popular but also common accommodations are rented apartments (39%), accommodations of relatives (22%), Airbnb offers (18%), and rented villa/houses (18%). On average the adults in Ireland spend over €2500 on holiday each year, with their travel expenses amounting to almost €9 Billion. This is accompanied by 54% feeling an increased financial pressure when it comes to planning holidays. With regard to this upcoming summer, 70% of the adults in Ireland are planning to go on a summer holiday. Among those, the majority (63%) are going to spend their holiday vacation abroad, only 14% are planning to stay in Ireland and 23% are considering both. Top 5 favourite summer destinations abroad are: 1. Spain (35%), 2. Portugal (18%), 3. England (15%), 4. Italy (10%), and 5. America (9%).  Compared to 2018, America has increased in popularity and has replaced France from rank 5. Within Ireland, Top 5 travel destinations are: 1. Galway (34%), 2. Kerry (32%), 3. Dublin (24%), 4. Cork (23%), 5. Mayo (17%). In contrast to last year, Louth is no more among the top 5 travel destinations and has been replaced by Mayo. While on summer vacation, most people plan to travel through Ireland (65%), go to the beach (45%), visit family and friends (45%), do some house/garden work they normally wouldn’t have time for (21%) or simply stay at home (12%). 44% will travel with family, 30% with their life partner and 21% with friends. Only 5% will travel alone. Furthermore, we asked our participants what they enjoy about holidays. These are the top 5 activities:  1. Relaxing (77%), 2. Eating out (62%), 3. Visiting tourist attractions (61%), 4. Break from work (53%), 5. Going to the beach (44%).

About iReach Insights iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 25th April and the 2nd May and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level. Questions asked of participants: How many different countries have you travelled to so far? Where have you been travelling? Which transportation system(s) do you mainly use when holidaying? Which accommodation(s) do you stay in? How often do you usually go on holidays per year? Roughly, how much do you usually spend on holidays each year? Are you planning on going on holidays this Summer? Are you going to spend your Summer holidays abroad or in Ireland this year? Where are you planning to go on holidays this summer? What will you do during holidays in Ireland? Where in Ireland will you be going? Do you feel that there is increased financial pressure when it comes to the summer and planning holidays? iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND. iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Only 32% like the idea of shops, restaurants or cafes where you can only pay with card.

iReach Insights Press Release

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23rd May 2019

Only 32% like the idea of shops, restaurants or cafes where you can only pay with card. Main concerns: 1. Taking away the free choice (56%) and 2. Too heavily reliant on technology (46%). However, the majority (54%) believe that one day we will be only able to pay with card and other alternatives payment methods to cash.  Top apprehensions associated with a cashless society: 1. Exposing personal information to a possible data breach (83%), 2. Banks starting to charge fees to compensate for possible negative interest rates (82%). Top benefits associated: 1. Less money laundering (48%), 2. Easier currency exchange while travelling internationally (58%). A new coffee shop just opened in Dublin, which may be the first cashless coffee shop in Ireland. With this in mind, iReach Insights conducted a nationally representative survey on 1,001 adults in Ireland on their feeling and attitude towards a cashless society. This research reveals, that only 32% like the idea of shops, restaurant or cafes where you can only pay with card. The majority of the adults in Ireland either doesn’t like the idea (47%) or is unsure about it (21%). The ones being in favour of this development mainly stated the following reasons: 1. It is quicker (59%), 2. They generally prefer paying with card (56%), 3. It is more convenient (55%), 4. It is easier (46%), and 5. They don’t like carrying cash with them (43%). On the other hand, the opponents justified their scepticism by indicating that; 1. It would take away the free choice of the payment method (56%), 2. It would be too heavily reliant on technology (46%), 3. They generally prefer paying with cash whenever they can (41%), 4. If they don’t have their card (lost or stolen), they wouldn’t be able to pay (36%), and 5. Technical problems could occur on the part of the establishment (36%).    Despite these concerns, over half of the adults in Ireland (54%) believe that one day we will be only able to pay with card and other alternative payments methods to cash. 48% think that a cashless society would result in less money laundering because there is always a paper trail with card transactions. Furthermore, 58% agree that it would enable easier currency exchange while travelling internationally. However, 80% point out that a fully digital system is vulnerable to glitches, fraud and attack. 83% would be afraid of exposing their personal information to a possible data breach and 78% would be worried of technology or hacker issues leaving them with no access to their money. Another concern, that 82% of the adults in Ireland share, is that banks may start charging fees to compensate for possible negative interest rates. In the opinion of 72% “cash free” means investing too much faith in the banks. 71% even go so far and indicate that they don’t trust the government enough in order to be willing to give them so much control. Moreover, 80% assume that some may find it harder to control spending when they don’t see physical cash leaving their hands.

About iReach Insights iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 9th and the 16th May and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level. Questions asked of participants: Do you like the idea of shops/ restaurants/ cafes where you can only pay with card? Why do you like the idea of cashless establishments? Why don’t you like the idea of cashless establishments? How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? How much do you agree or disagree with the following arguments in favour of a cashless society? How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements against a cashless society. iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND. iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Almost €12 Million lost due to booking fraud within the last 12 months in Ireland.

iReach Insights Press Release

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21st May 2019

Almost €12 Million lost due to booking fraud within the last 12 months in Ireland. Over 180.000 adults in Ireland have at least been once a victim of holiday booking fraud. In the past 12 months this has affected over 25.000 bookings with an average loss per booking of €451. Top three bookings that turned out to be a fraud are; 1. Train Tickets (35%), 2. Hotel Bookings (32%), 3. Apartment Bookings (23%).  59% arranged a legitimate replacement booking and 7% claimed under holiday insurance. As we face into the Summer Holiday period, iReach Insights conducted a nationally representative survey of 1,001 adults in Ireland on their experiences with booking fraud.   This research revealed, that over 180.000 adults in Ireland have at least been once a victim of holiday booking fraud. Over 25,000 bookings have been affected in the last 12 months. With an average loss of €451 per booking, generating personal losses of almost €12 Million within the last 12 months. Due to the rapid development of new technologies, such as the widespread internet and social media platforms, and the associated new opportunities for fraudsters, it is likely that these numbers will continue to rise in the future. This can be deduced from the fact that most of the bookings were made on an online website (59%), smartphone (36%) or via e-mail (20%); and were mainly paid by credit card (64%), only 20% indicated that they ever paid cash. Almost half (47%) of those that ever experienced a booking fraud stated that they have been deceived at least two times or more. Top five bookings that turned out to be a fraud were train tickets (35%), hotel bookings (32%), apartment booking (23%), bus tickets (16%) and airline tickets (15%). The good news is that 59% obtained a legitimate replacement booking. 34% indicated that they did not claim under holiday insurance so lost depositions and spend. The remaining 7% claimed and received refunds under holiday insurance.   About iReach Insights iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 9th and the 16th May and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level. Questions asked of participants: Have you ever been a victim of holiday booking fraud? What kind of booking turned out to be a fraud? How was the booking made? How was the booking paid for? How many times have you been a victim? When did that happen? How much have you approximately lost due to this fraud (the last time)? Did you obtain legitimate replacement booking? Did you claim under Holiday Insurance? iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND. iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com