Fewer People Feel Ready for a "Lockdown" but Munster Homes are Better Stocked

Fewer people in Ireland would feel prepared if a lockdown were imposed because of a new virus than in September 2024, according to research published by the Minister for Health. The findings also show Munster households are more likely than the national average to keep a three-day emergency supply of food and drink, and to have agreed with family or friends how to contact each other in an emergency.

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has published three reports from the Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Behaviour Monitor, an international research project examining how individuals and communities prepare for major public health emergencies.

The Department of Health said the reports provide insights into public attitudes, preparedness behaviours and health-related knowledge across Ireland and three other European countries.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Health:

"This research provides valuable insight into how people prepare for emergencies, where gaps remain and how resilience can be strengthened. The findings will support Ireland's approach to emergency planning and help ensure our health system can respond effectively to future public health threats.

Effective preparedness depends on continued investment in research, strong international collaboration and evidence-based decisions. These reports will help guide that work."

The Irish surveys were carried out by Ipsos B&A for the Department of Health using a nationally representative online panel. A total of 3,110 people took part across three waves, with 1,032 responding in September and October 2024, 1,050 in April 2025 and 1,028 in October and November 2025.

The proportion of people who felt well or very well prepared for a lockdown imposed because of the spread of a new virus fell from 34% in September 2024 to 27% in October 2025. Over the same period, the proportion who felt unprepared rose from 32% to 35%.

Confidence in Government preparedness also slipped, from 26% saying the Government would be well or very well prepared in September 2024 to 22% in October 2025. Across all three waves, just under half said the Government would be not prepared or not at all prepared for a lockdown due to a new virus, at 46%, 45% and 46% respectively.

Basic household readiness remains patchy. While 87% keep a flashlight or candles accessible and 75% have a first aid kit at home, only 16% have a grab bag prepared, and only 16% have informed themselves about the response plan their city, region or country has for a disaster or emergency.

Supplies of face covers, disinfectant and soap have trended downwards, falling from 73% in September 2024 to 59% in October 2025.

Munster respondents were ahead of the national picture on several measures. In the October 2025 wave, half of respondents nationally had a three-day emergency supply stock of drinks and food at home; that rose to 60% among those living in Munster.

One-third (34%) nationally had agreed with family or friends how to contact each other in case of emergency. In Munster the figure was 43%, which the report describes as significantly higher. In the rest of Leinster it was 26%.

Munster was also above the national average on two of the handwashing measures in the survey's new section on zoonotic diseases, which pass from animals to people. Nationally, 86% said they often or always washed their hands before preparing food, rising to 93% in Munster against 79% in the rest of Leinster. On washing hands after touching an animal, including pets, the national figure was 60% and the Munster figure 69%, which the report describes as significantly higher.

The report found no significant regional differences on several of the other handwashing scenarios it measured, and named Dublin rather than Munster on washing hands after preparing meals with raw meat, fish, eggs or milk.

Across all three waves, around half of respondents thought a natural disaster or a highly contagious disease outbreak was at least somewhat likely in their region within the next five years. Around three in ten thought an armed conflict was at least somewhat likely.

Flu vaccination held steady, with 40% saying they had got the vaccine that season in both September 2024 and October 2025.

The research was developed by the Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, RIVM, and examines preparedness behaviours in Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and the Netherlands. The Department of Health supported three additional survey waves following an initial survey by RIVM.

The work forms part of wider efforts by the Department of Health to enhance Ireland's emergency preparedness and response capabilities, as outlined in the Emerging Health Threats Expert Advisory Group Report.

A research paper arising from the project, "Psychosocial profiles of pandemic and health emergency preparedness: A latent class analysis across four European countries", is currently under peer review for publication in Scientific Reports. A preprint is available through the Open Science Foundation.