According to the recent OECD report issued in April 2011, the amount of time spent by Irish people volunteering outside the home is the third equal highest (with the United States) in the OECD. The Irish are the second highest in the OECD for citizens volunteering time, giving money, and helping a stranger, with 60% on average having done so in the previous month, compared to an OECD average of 39%.

However we also now have the fourth highest unemployment rate in the OECD at over 12%, much higher than the OECD average of 8.1%.

But when it comes to routine housework, at just over one and a half hours spent every day, we are the second lowest when it comes to cooking and cleaning, well below the OECD average of 2 hours and 8 minutes.