ALMOST TWO-THIRDS of Ireland's thirtysomethings believe the Government is "completely out of touch" with the average person, a new poll has found.

The Behaviour & Attitudes poll commissioned by Today FM and the Irish Independent shows a high level of dissatisfaction with the Government - and a keen desire to see a new political offering.

The poll of thirtysomethings finds that 57 per cent believe the time is ripe for a new political party to be set up - while 43 per cent say they are more likely to vote for an independent than a political party when the next election rolls around.

Only 23 per cent say they would prefer to vote for a political party than for an independent, with the other one-third of voters seeming undecided on that issue.

A mere 29 per cent of respondents to the survey were prepared to acknowledge that the Government has "a difficult job to do" and is doing its best under the circumstances.

But the poll also finds that Ireland's thirtysomethings are deeply divided about whether the country is heading in the right direction. 

37 per cent believe the country is moving in the right direction, both economically and socially, while 35 per cent believe it is heading in the rwong direction.

Elsewhere, 23 per cent of respondents self-identified as being left-wing, while only 12 per cent described themselves as right-wing. 25 per cent described themselves as 'centrist'.