Trust Survey December 2021

Respondents were asked to rate on a 0-10 point scale from ‘0 Not at all satisfied’ to ‘10 Completely satisfied’ their satisfaction levels with the quality of the health system, the education system and administrative services[1] in Ireland. One in six (16.1%) respondents had a ‘0 Not at all satisfied’ score for their satisfaction level with the quality of the health system. The comparable rates for satisfaction with the quality of administrative services and the education system were 4.1% and 2.9% respectively. See Figure 3.1 and view Table TRA24 in PxStat.

[1] e.g. applying for an ID or a certificate of birth, death, marriage or divorce.

The mean score for each satisfaction level indicator was calculated by adding individual scores and dividing the total by the number of individuals. The mean scores for satisfaction levels with the quality of the health system, the education system and administrative services in Ireland were 4.0, 6.3 and 6.0 respectively. View Table TRA25 in PxStat.

In line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) recommended groupings, responses were grouped as Not satisfied (0-4), Neutral (5) or Satisfied (6-10). Overall, 56% of respondents were Not satisfied (0-4) with the quality of the health system. One in four (25%) were Not satisfied (0-4) with the quality of the administrative services and one in five (20%) were Not satisfied (0-4) with the quality education system. Just under one in three (32%) respondents were Satisfied (6-10) with the quality of the health system. The comparable rates for satisfaction with the quality of the administrative services and the education system were 63% and 70% respectively. See Figure 3.2.

Analysis of interpersonal and institutional trust levels by respondents’ age shows that interpersonal and institutional trust levels increase with age. Analysis of trust levels by respondents’ voting status in the last general election shows that respondents who voted for a party not currently in government have lower trust scores when compared with respondents who voted for a government party, see Trust Chapter. Similarly, satisfaction levels with the quality of the education system, the health system and administrative services increased with respondents’ age and respondents who voted for a government party reported higher satisfaction scores for the quality of the public services. Seven in 10 (71%) respondents aged 18-44 were Not satisfied (0-4) with the quality of the health system, the comparable rate for respondents aged 45-64 was just over half (52%) and for those aged 65 and over, four in 10 (39%). See Figure 3.3 and view Table TRA26 in PxStat.

Of respondents who voted in the last general election, those who voted for a party currently in government had higher mean satisfaction scores with the quality of the health system (4.4 compared with 3.3 for those who voted for an opposition party), with the quality of administrative services (6.3 compared with 5.4) and with the quality of the education system (6.8 compared with 5.4). Of respondents who voted for an opposition party, one in three (33%) were Not satisfied (0-4) with the quality of the education system and seven in 10 (70%) were Not satisfied (0-4) with the quality of the health system. The comparable rates for respondents who voted for a government party were 13% and 49% respectively. See Figure 3.4 and view Table TRA31 in PXStat.

Respondents with a third level degree were more likely to be both Not satisfied (0-4) and Satisfied (6-10) with the quality of the education system when compared to respondents without a third level degree. These respondents had a lower Neutral (5) rate than respondents without a third level degree (8% and 16% respectively). Of respondents with a third level degree, 21% were Not satisfied (0-4) and 71% were Satisfied (6-10) with the quality of the education system. The comparable rates for respondents without a third level education were 17% and 66% respectively. See Figure 3.5 and view TRA28 in PXStat.

Respondents were asked if they were enrolled or if they had a child enrolled in an educational institution in the last two years. Respondents who answered Yes to this question had lower satisfaction levels with the quality of the education system when compared with respondents who answered No. Where neither the respondent nor a respondent’s child were enrolled in an educational institution, three in four (75%) were Satisfied (6-10) with the quality of the education system. The comparable rate for respondents who were enrolled in an educational institution (or had a child enrolled) was 65%.  One in four (24%) respondents who were enrolled in an educational institution (or had a child enrolled) were Not Satisfied (0-4) with the quality of the education system. See Figure 3.6 and view Table TRA32 in PXStat.