# Giving levels in Ireland are up despite ‘top up’ controversy

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/04/08/giving-levels-ireland-despite-top-controversy/
- Published: 2014-04-08T15:38:58+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Fewer people in Ireland are making donations to charities but the value of donations
has increased, according to two surveys carried out by market research agency [Behaviours and Attitudes](http://www.banda.ie/).

According to [the Irish Times](http://www.irishtimes.com), the two surveys were 
conducted on behalf of [Fundraising Ireland](http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Fundraising%20Ireland&article=true)
following the [controversy around payments made to senior executives](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2013/11/26/fundraisers-move-deny-salary-top-allegations/)
in the Central Remedial Clinic, Rehab and other organisations.

## Reported giving to charity

The first survey, which asked 1,000 people about their giving, found that **77% 
said that they gave to charity in 2013**, down from **85% the previous year**. There
was good news, however, for the Society of St Vincent de Paul, with respondents 
reporting an increase in giving from 20% to 22%.

## Advertisement

The survey found that men were more likely to have stopped donating than women. 
Nevertheless, the number of people saying they gave to charity fell in all socioeconomic
groups.

The same survey reported that for donations under €1,000 **the level of giving had
increased from €59 to €74**.

## Survey of chief financial officers

This finding was reinforced by the other survey of 76 chief financial officers which
reported **donations up to €1.7 million in 2013 from €1.6 in 2012**, including an
increase during the height of the top up controversy.

These latest surveys paint a confusing picture of the impact of the top up payments
controversy with an [earlier report by the One Percent Difference Campaign](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2014/03/05/research-confirms-big-drop-irish-giving/)
showing that individual giving had decreased significantly.

 

_Photo: [Euro coins](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-7471702/stock-photo-many-euro-coins-in-different-value.html)
by Ivonne Wierink on Shutterstock.com_

 * **[Hospital foundation reports drop in income](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/04/16/hospital-foundation-reports-drop-income/)**(
   16 April 2014)
 * **[Genio to open grants round for 2014](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/05/08/genio-open-grants-round-2014/)**(
   8 May 2014)
 * **[Consultation begins on major EU programmes](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/06/09/consultation-begins-major-eu-programmes/)**(
   9 June 2014)