One in three lone-parent families live in poverty

ROCKETING numbers of lone-parent families are living in dire poverty with four in five households having to go without heat, food or warm clothing.

Research has revealed that 32.5% of single-parent families were classed as “consistently poor” last year compared with 27.2%the year before.

Yesterday, poverty campaigners said the figures were proof the Government was failing to tackle Ireland’s deep-rooted poverty problem.