Just under 80 per cent of people believe the State should fund healthcare through general taxation, according to a survey conducted for the Tasc think-tank.
The survey, by the Behaviour and Attitudes firm, examined public attitudes towards the provision of healthcare, childcare, education and old age support.
The respondents were asked if the specific services should be funded by the individual, by way of insurance and savings, or by the State through general taxation.
It found that:
- 88 per cent believe old age provision should be State-funded
- 87 per cent believe education should be State-funded
- 78 per cent believe health should be State-funded
- 58 per cent believe childcare should be State-funded
"The findings constitute a resounding endorsement of universal public service provision," said Tasc director Paula Clancy.
"It is particularly noteworthy that a majority of ABC1 respondents - who would be faced with higher taxes in order to fund universal service provision - believed that all the specified services should be State-funded. This bears out what Tasc has always argued, and what previous Tasc surveys have shown: the Irish public has a strong instinct towards solidarity," Ms Clancy said.
"At a time when the talk is all about cuts in public services, these findings should give the Government pause for thought," she said.
The survey found that more wealthy people were slightly more likely to support private or individual provision but overall the survey indicated broad agreement across society, amongst young and old, male and female, and those with or without children.
The survey was carried out at 60 locations around the State, on a sample of 1,000 people aged 16 and over.