Over 20% of Irish people at risk of poverty

THE Central Statistics Office (CSO) report shows that, despite almost a decade of economic boom, Ireland still has a large proportion of people at risk of poverty. It also reveals that a higher proportion of women than men live in consistent poverty.

The figures tend to support the recent study by the Combat Poverty Agency, which showed that almost one in five Irish children live in income poverty for five years or more.

The proportion of Irish people at risk of poverty after pensions and social transfer payments were taken into account, was 21% in 2004. This was one of the highest rates in the EU.