Campaign warns of growing poverty gap

IRELAND’S increasing income gap is creating a very divided society, the Combat Poverty Agency warned yesterday.

It said that one in five (21%) of the population is living below the poverty line on less than €164 a week - 2% above the European Union average.

“Our position compared to the developed countries of the European Union is a matter of serious concern,” Combat Poverty director Helen Johnston said at the launch of the agency’s annual report.