Ireland was a participant country in the 2023 round of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) ‘Trust Survey’. This was the second round of the Trust survey with the first round taking place in 2021. The Trust Survey monitors people’s self-reported interpersonal trust and trust in different institutions and levels of government across OECD countries. Ireland was one of 30 countries that participated in the 2023 round of the survey, which also included Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. It is expected that the OECD will publish intercountry results from this survey on July 10th 2024.
The sample consisted of 5,000 people. The sample was selected from an opt-in online panel using sample matching to a simulated probability sample. The simulated probability based, simple random sample, n=5000, was selected from the CSO’s Census population-based register. This was then matched to a non-probability-based sample, using a Gower’s Distance function. Individuals were matched based on sex, age group, education group, household size, principal economic status, and house status.
An online questionnaire was conducted by the CSO from 20th of September to the 23rd of October 2023. Individuals selected received an email from the CSO and were asked to complete the questionnaire online. Multiple reminders were issued for the survey, with the last reminder occurring on the 17th of October 2023.
A response rate of 40% was achieved with 1,983 respondents of which 1,969 were useable.
The survey design weights were adjusted for non-response and calibrated according to sex, age and region, using Q3 2023 population estimates as benchmarks. Population totals were split by sex (male / female), age categories (aged 18-29 years, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80+) and NUTS2 region (Northern and Western, Southern, and Eastern and Midlands), to calibrate non-response adjusted design weights. A gaussian noise function was added to each weight value also.
Respondents were asked questions on trust levels in various groups and institutions as well as what factors influence their levels of trust. Respondents were also asked to rate their satisfaction levels with specific public services, their expectations related to behaviours of different groups (for example, of public sector employees, politicians, and public institutions), to evaluate government priorities and about their concerns impacting Ireland. The questionnaire closely followed the OECD’s recommended survey questions. The questions related to respondents’ comfort levels at leaving a key with a neighbour, respondents’ expectations related to the return of a lost wallet/purse and whether the respondent was a parent of a child were not part of the OECD survey questionnaire.
Some key analysis variables within this publication are:
This classification is derived from a single question and refers to educational standards that have been attained by the respondent.
The question is phrased as follows:
What is the highest level of education or training you have ever successfully completed?
For the purposes of this publication highest level of education attained has been classified as follows:
Degree of Urbanisation analysis presented in this publication is based on the following population densities derived from Census of Population 2021:
Regional analysis is presented in this publication are based on the NUTS2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat. The regions are categorised as follows:
These regions are comprised as follows:
| Northern and Western NUTS2 Reagion | Southern NUTS2 Region | Eastern and Midland NUTS2 Region | |||
| Border | Cavan Donegal Leitrim Monaghan Sligo |
Mid-West | Clare Limerick Tipperary |
Dublin | Dublin City Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Fingal South Dublin |
| West | Galway Mayo Roscommon |
South-East | Carlow Kilkenny Waterford Wexford |
Mid-East | Kildare Louth Meath Wicklow |
| South-West | Cork Kerry | Midland | Laois Longford Offaly Westmeath |
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Respondents were asked if the party they voted for in the last general election (or would have voted for if they didn't vote) is currently part of the government. For the purpose of this survey, respondents who voted in the last general election are classified as:
Respondent were asked which of the following categories best describes your current situation?
Answer options were:
The results from this variable were combined to create a classification of work situation as follows:
Results were also broken down by gender and age groups in accordance with the OECD groupings.
Respondents were asked would they describe themselves as being a member of a group that is discriminated against in Ireland. Answer options were:
Background data in Pxstat has been rounded to 2 decimal places. The sum of row or column percentages in the tables/figures in this report may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
The Central Statistics Office wishes to thank the participants for their co-operation in agreeing to take part in the Trust Survey and for facilitating the collection of the relevant data.
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