Widening rich-poor gap shown by study

IRELAND spends far less on the care of some of its most vulnerable citizens than any other EU country.

Social welfare expenditure is also lower than that of most western democracies, according to a study conducted on behalf of the Combat Poverty Agency.

The report, to be published today, appears to bear out the popular conception that Ireland’s rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. It also highlights our inability to make serious inroads in areas such as child poverty and income inequality.