High cost of living sees Ireland finish bottom of European quality of life league.
Ireland has finished in last position in a European 'Quality of Life' survey. Despite having one of Europe's highest average incomes, it comes bottom in terms of quality of life issues including the cost of living, the weather and working conditions.
We all know the weather's bad in Ireland but for other reasons too, the picture is not so rosy.
Groceries and gas bills are amongst the highest, people work longer into old age, and don't fair well when it comes to holiday time off work.
Spain came out on top in the league of ten countries when it came to quality of life boasting the most sunshine and cheaper essentials such as energy and food.
1st Spain
2nd France
3rd Germany
4th Netherlands
5th Denmark
6th Sweden
7th Italy
8th Poland
9th UK
10th Ireland
According to the survey, the average income in Ireland is €36,895, while Spain's is just €21,220. However, the cost of the average basket of groceries in Ireland is €184, while in Spain it is just €168. The annual electricity bill in Ireland amounts to €736 while in Spain it is €539.
People retire the latest in Ireland at sixty-four years of age, and get just twenty-nine holiday days a year, compared to a European average of thirty-three.
RTÉ News got the reaction of some people on the streets to the findings of the survey.
It's a good quality of life but it's very expensive for what you get.
All my wages goes on my rent and my shopping. I've nothing left over.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 July 2008. The reporter is Tadhg Enright.
