Monday, 6 October 2025

 

With 1 day before the 2026 Budget, 33% of adults in Ireland expect to be worse off financially (up 9% from last year).

 

 

16% of adults think they will be better off financially after the Budget announcement with Government Ministers are suggesting that adults in Ireland will be better off by a modest amount at around €10-€20 a week.

 

 

  • Of those expecting an increase in their finances, the average amount adults expect to be better off by is €603.40.

 

  • Of those expecting a reduction in their finances, the average amount adults expect to be worse off by is €470.70.

 

 

 

  • According to 1,000 respondents, improving the Health Sector is the top challenge that needs to be addressed in the upcoming Budget (81%).

 

  • A recent nationwide survey by iReach Insights showed that Increased tax credits or reduced VAT levels is the second most important concern (61%) followed by improved access to Early age Childcare for families nationwide (35%).

 

  • 37% of respondents think the housing crisis will get worse in the year ahead with potential Budget 2026 changes (up 5% from last year). Of these 15% feel it will get much worse.

 

  • 50% think there will be no change in improvement (up 7%). However, 14% think the housing crisis will improve with the Budget 2025 changes. Of these 2% think it will improve a lot.

 

  • 2 in 5 adults (40%) think the homelessness crisis will get worse in the year ahead with potential Budget 2025 changes. Of these 17% think it will get much worse.

 

  • 47% think there will be no change in improvement (up 6%). However, 14% of adults think the homelessness crisis will improve in the year ahead. Of these 2% think it will improve a lot.

 

For more statistics you can visit us at our blog: https://ireachhq.com/blog

 

 

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 of September to the 6th of October and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.  1,000 adults took part in this part of the twice monthly iReach Consumer Omnibus Survey.

 

Questions asked of adults nationwide:

 

Q1. Do you expect to be better off financially with the expected Irish Government Budget announcement on the 7th October?

Q2. You said you expect to be better off after the Budget announcement. How much better off do you expect to be financially over the next 12 months after the budget measures are implemented?

Q3. You said you expect to be worse off after the Budget announcement. How much worse off do you expect to be financially over the next 12 months after the budget measures are implemented?

Q4. Do you think the housing crisis will improve in the year ahead with potential Budget 2026 changes?

Q5. Do you think the homelessness crisis will improve in the year ahead with potential Budget 2026 changes?

Q6. From the list of challenges facing Irish citizens, which are the Top 3 that are most important for the Government to address in the upcoming Budget?

 

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

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne


T: 01-214 3740 or email:
oisin.byrne@ireachhq.com

The majority (79%) of adults in Ireland are likely to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election.

 

 

·       78% of adults feel the next President should have political experience.  

o   This is highest for Boomers with 82% feeling the next President should have political experience.

 

·       When asked what are the most important quality the next President should have;

o   28% of adults say it’s a connection with ordinary people

o   20% say it’s experience in politics

o   20% say it’s a defender or Irish culture and heritage

o   15% say it’s fresh outsider perspective

 

 

·       Highest at 28%, Gen Z adults think fresh outside perspective is the most important quality the next President should have.

 

 

·       Over half (55%) of adults feel connected to the Presidency with 14% of these feeling very connected.

 

·       More than 1 in 4 adults (28%) believe that younger voters will have a bigger influence in this election compared to the past ones.

 

o   45% of adults aged 25-34 believe that younger voters will have a bigger influence in this election.

 

·       30% of adults feel the Presidency should focus more on building unity at home in Ireland and 24% think they should focus more on representing Ireland abroad.

o   41% of Gen Z adults feel the Presidency should focus more on domestic unity.

 

 

 

 

For more statistics you can visit us at our blog: https://ireachhq.com/blog

 

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 17th and 24th of September and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

 

Questions asked of adults nationwide:

 

Q1. How likely are you to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election?

Q2. Which of these qualities do you think is most important in the next President of Ireland?

Q3. Do you feel connected to the Presidency, or does it feel distant from your everyday life?

Q4. Do you believe younger voters will have a bigger influence in this election compared to past ones?

Q5. Should the next President be someone with political experience, or from outside politics?

Q6. Do you think the Presidency should focus more on Ireland’s global image or domestic unity?

 

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

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email:
oisin.byrne@ireachhq.com or phone 086 8506364