ALMOST THREE in 10 Irish people fear they may run out of money for food, ordinary bills and daily consumer items according to a new EU survey.

The study also finds that 15 per cent feel their job is threatened while 45 per cent of Irish respondents feel there is a high or moderate risk that they would not cope with an unexpected expense of €1,000 in the next year.

A similar number feels there was a high, moderate or low risk that they would fall behind with rent or mortgage payments in the next 12 months. In addition, 6 per cent of Irish respondents say they are falling behind with some or many bills and a further 9 per cent say they are keeping up with bills, but find it a constant struggle.

The recession is also making its presence felt in other EU countries. The research, which was commissioned by social affairs commissioner Laslo Andor, shows that 85 per cent of Greek respondents think that poverty increased in their country in the last year.

Eighty-three per cent of French respondents perceive a rise in poverty, while 82 per cent of Bulgarians, 77 per cent of Romanians and 75 per cent of Italians see poverty on the rise.

Some 50 per cent of Irish survey respondents said they perceive a strong or slight increase in poverty, but the tally is below the EU average of 60 per cent. A total of 1,000 Irish people participated in the Eurobarometer telephone survey, which was carried out last month.

Some 4 per cent of Irish respondents felt it was “very likely” or “fairly likely” they would need to leave their home in the next year as it would become unaffordable. Fear of having to leave home is greatest in Greece and Latvia, the survey said.

Mr Andor said: “The crisis is taking its toll and a significant proportion of Europeans are finding it difficult to make ends meet.”

In Ireland, 35 per cent of respondents said they were finding it much more difficult or somewhat more difficult to afford healthcare. This was greater than the EU average of 29 per cent.

Ireland came in slightly below average as regards childcare, with 11 per cent of respondents saying it was much more difficult or somewhat more difficult to afford such services. Some 27 per cent of Irish respondents said they found it much more difficult or somewhat more difficult to afford long-term care for family members.

“The older the respondents, the more likely they were to feel that it had become harder to afford general healthcare and long-term care for themselves or their family,” the research stated.



