170,000 children in poverty, claims agency

ALMOST 170,000 children live in poverty, with one in 16 lacking basic necessities such as food, clothes and heating.

Combat Poverty, the statutory organisation dedicated to eliminating poverty, questioned the Government's record on social inclusion after revealing the statistics in its annual report yesterday.

The agency defines poverty as having an income of less than €172 per adult per week, plus inability to afford sufficient hot meals, warm clothing and household heating.