A survey carried out by the Irish Times revealed that the majority of people in Ireland are content with their current style of living and optimistic about the future. Some 69% of those questioned had not suffered a pay cut, while the figure for those whose working hours had not been cut was 76%.

People have generally adapted their lifestyles to the economic downturn, putting off major purchases, undertaking more DIY and growing their own fruit and vegetables. The 18-25 age group appear to be the most upbeat, while 94% of those over 65 years of age said they were content with their lives. The most likely to be concerned about the future are those aged 45-54.

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