Just 10pc think it is a good idea to cut Vat rate for hospitality in Budget as healthcare and housing top priorities

"Improvements in healthcare are still seen as a key issue, with 48pc of consumers citing this as a priority. Housing should also be a priority in the Budget, according to 45pc of consumers. Mr Hughes said: "Perhaps surprisingly, housing was prioritised more frequently among the over-55s than among younger age groups." The economist said a sense of continuing strains on household spending power is emphasised by 42pc of Irish consumers prioritising cost-of-living supports."

"But the survey also indicates that most people are hopeful of some help with high living costs in the Budget. Just 10pc of consumers cited a Vat cut for the hospitality sector as one of their three Budget priorities. This is the lowest share of responses among the 13 options put before consumers in the survey. There are fears that commitments made by the Government to reduce the Vat rate for hospitality to 9pc will mean there is little money left for income tax cuts for consumers."

"A desire to have energy credits announced again for this year was cited by 31pc of consumers. Twenty-seven per cent of consumers indicated that easing the tax burden on workers should be a priority for this Budget. Mr Hughes said that despite strong media emphasis on and economic policy advice on the dangers of "giveaway" measures in the Budget, a relatively small numbers of consumers feel it should prioritise the stability of the public finance"

Healthcare, housing and help with the cost of living are the top Budget concerns. Roughly one in three expect some Budget boost to living standards, while 51% do not expect improvements. Only 10% prioritise a VAT cut for hospitality, the lowest response among options, raising fears such a commitment could limit funds for income tax cuts. Forty-eight percent prioritise healthcare, 45% prioritise housing (notably higher among those over 55), 42% prioritise cost-of-living supports, 31% want energy credits, and 27% want easing of the tax burden on workers. Concerns about public finance stability are less widely prioritised.

Read at Irish Independent