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Most people would give up tax cuts for greater spending on health services

Over half of people would forgo tax cuts for greater investment in health.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD forgo tax cuts for greater investment in the health service, according to a new poll.

Over half of people in Ireland, 55%, favour greater spending in health and would give up the tax cuts being promised by almost all the main political parties in order to facilitate it.

The Claire Byrne Live/Amárach Research poll found that 34% would not forgo tax cuts while 11% don’t know.

Support for greater investment in health over tax cuts is stronger among women with 59% favouring it when compared to 53% of men.

The strongest support for greater investment in health is among the 45- to 54-year-old age category where 60% favour it over tax cuts.

The State spends approximately €13.1 billion annually on the health service.

When voluntary health care payments and out-of-pocket payments are taken into account health spending accounts for around 12.4% of gross national income, which is higher than the EU average.

The government’s failure to overhaul the health system over the past five years has been the source of repeated criticism from the opposition parties.

The Fine Gael-Labour coalition had pledged to begin the introduction of universal health insurance but the proposal has been long-fingered.

It has managed to introduce free GP care for under 6s and over 70s and has committed to introducing universal healthcare if re-elected.

Fianna Fáil has proposed to increase health spending while Sinn Féin has said it will radically overhaul the health system and introduce a single-tier public health system.

Read: Candidate says Fine Gael’s ‘boys club mentality’ has her ‘making the tea’

Read: Woman taken to hospital after being struck on head by election poster

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76 Comments
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    Mute tubbsyf
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    Sep 8th 2019, 8:49 PM

    Yet the gaa which has terrible participation rates get the majority if grants. More pools, cycle tracks , astro pitches etc needed

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    Mute Davis Payne
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    Sep 8th 2019, 9:37 PM

    Sport is not the answer to mental health issues, I know a lot of people that suffer immense sports anxiety. I know 1 person in particular that suffered huge depression as a result of the team losing a number of matches where he took the blame on himself. Unfortunately sport is not a quick fix, there is none. We need to manage the expectations and pressures we put on people as a nation.

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    Mute Seán Troy
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    Sep 8th 2019, 9:54 PM

    @Davis Payne:

    There is no better solution for anxiety than exercise. Power lifting in particular.

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    Mute helen walsh
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    Sep 9th 2019, 12:24 AM

    @Davis Payne: yes and another thing..hands were made to use, more hobbies, more diy…more community involvement, more jobs for pocket money from a young age. Less social media.

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    Mute Seamus Scott
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    Sep 8th 2019, 10:25 PM

    Sport is not the answer , your deluded if you think that , it’s a help but not the answer , will sport be there when your down in yourself at midnight , what about lots of guys who just can’t stand sport it’s not the answer for them , who makes up this stuff .

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    Mute SC
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    Sep 8th 2019, 10:31 PM

    Men are not so irrational. When they are stressed it is usually because of real iddues like financial or relationship problems or loneliness. There’s a lot society can do (get rent under control,.make young men feel wanted in work and like their life has direction, give young people back some free time so they can actually socialise and meet women/men rather than work and go to the gym.all the time) and not as much an individual can do for themselves because these big issues are out of our hands.

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    Mute John Joe & Bridie
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    Sep 9th 2019, 9:50 AM

    Every 6 weeks we get a Lynn knows best article…..

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    Mute Wayne Scales
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    Sep 8th 2019, 9:57 PM

    100% correct doesn’t work for everyone but for many it is the light at the e d of a dark tunnel.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Sep 9th 2019, 7:13 AM

    Sport isn’t a blanket answer to mental health issues. I’ve played competitive sports from a young age. If you have low self esteem to begin with, you need to be very careful what sports you choose to participate in. From what i’ve seen in the various sports and clubs i’ve been in, bullying and verbal abuse is rife in them.

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    Mute Sean May
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    Sep 9th 2019, 1:16 PM

    @Dave Doyle: I agree whole-heartedly with you on this. I lost all interest in sporting activity for years as a result of such abuse.

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    Mute Henry Gaynor
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    Sep 9th 2019, 8:18 AM

    All young men should do two years compulsory military service. They will learn the value of discipline, fitness, comradeship, and taking care of themselves.

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