Rise in number of children and their families living in poverty, according to ESRI

Material deprivation is defined as those living without two or more essentials from a list of 10 items. File photo

Up to a quarter of a million people in families that include a child under five are now living below the poverty line when housing costs are taken into account.

The figures prompted the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to warn that Government may need to consider policies such as a second rate of child benefit for low-income families in the next budget.