Quarter of people were in arrears for at least one item

Almost one quarter of Irish people were in debt arrears for one or more items in 2010 — and more than half of those living in consistent poverty had debt arrears.

The CSO published the figures as part of a comprehensive analysis of the 2010 Survey on Income and Living Conditions.

The initial findings were revealed at the end of last year and showed that almost one in six people were now at risk of poverty and, of those, almost one fifth had been unable to pay to heat their homes.