Brennan considers measures for families at risk of poverty

Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan has said he is considering the introduction a second-tier of children’s allowance payments targeted at families deemed at risk of falling into poverty.

An EU survey of incomes and living conditions in 2003 has found that 9% of the Irish population live in “consistent poverty”, while 23% live in households earning less than 60% of the national average, which puts them at risk of poverty.