The survey was part of the Nationwide Consumer Survey conducted by the Research Bureau of Pietà during April. A total of 3,769 people took part in the survey.

From the 3,769 respondents, 377 (10 per cent) answered that their local council is ‘very efficient’, 1,140 (30 per cent) said that their local council is ‘efficient’, 1,223 (32 per cent) answered that their local council is ‘not so efficient’ and 616 (16 per cent) said that their local council is ‘not efficient at all’. 413 (11 per cent) did not answer the question.

The bureau said that if one grouped the positive results (377 – ‘very efficient’ plus 1,140 – ‘efficient’) and the negative results (1,223 – ‘not so efficient’ plus 616 – ‘not efficient at all’) you get the following picture:

• People with a negative attitude towards their local council’s efficiency – 49 per cent;

• People with a positive attitude towards their local council’s efficiency – 40 per cent;

• People who did not answer the question – 11 per cent;

From those who answered ‘not efficient at all’, 16 per cent is the norm on all the age brackets. From those who said ‘not so efficient’ (32 per cent) the 18-24 age group is the highest with 37 per cent.

On the other hand, from those who said that their local council is ‘efficient’ (30 per cent) the under-18 group was top with 39 per cent.

From those who said that their local council is ‘very efficient’ (10 per cent) the most positive age groups were the 65-74 with 16 per cent, and the 75+ with 23 per cent.

Females were more positive than males with regards to the local council’s efficiency. Eleven per cent of the females said that their local council is ‘very efficient’ while 8 per cent of the males gave the same positive answer. Nineteen per cent of the males said that their local council is ‘not efficient’ while only 15 per cent of the females share the same opinion.

Respondents with university, post-graduate and post-secondary level of education were more critical than respondents with primary and secondary level of education. Thirty-seven per cent of people with post-secondary level of education said their local council is ‘not so efficient’, 40 per cent of the university level and 38 per cent of post-graduate level gave the same answer. On the other hand only 26 per cent of the respondents with primary level of education and 29 per cent of the secondary level of education respondents answered in the same manner. This is also confirmed when one analyses the persons who said that their local council is ‘very efficient’. Fourteen per cent of the respondents with primary level of education said so while only six per cent of university level respondents answered in the same

manner.

Local councils and others who want more information about this research can contact The Research Bureau on telephone number 2123-1153 or email them on [email protected]