A survey carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of TASC, the independently-funded think-tank in June of 1,000 people of all ages, genders and economic background indicates that 69 percent of respondents believe the Government should prioritise investing in public services over cutting income taxes in next October’s budget.

The Government has already pledged to distribute up to €1.5bn equally in tax cuts and additional spending.

The survey was carried out before Minister Michael Noonan told Newstalk last week that he plans to cut at least 1 percent off the Universal Social Charge in October which would account for close to €400m in the €750m in tax cuts he has signalled

According to TASC, the Government should now take the results of this survey into account, as part of the National Economic Dialogue which begins this week, in determining how it allocates the €1.5bn sum, and perhaps rolling back on the tax cuts it has already signalled – which seems unlikely heading into a General Election.

According to the survey, 86 percent of respondents believe the minimum wage should be increased from its current level of €9.50 per hour and close to 80 percent believe it should be the same as the Living Wage which has now been calculated at €11.50 per hour.