Numbers in consistent poverty fell last year

CONSISTENT POVERTY in Ireland fell between 2006 and 2007, a Central Statistics Office survey has found.

However, there was an increase in the numbers of older people at risk of poverty. And children made up almost 40 per cent of those in consistent poverty.

The Survey on Income and Living Conditions, released yesterday, defined a person as being "at risk of poverty" if their income is 60 per cent below the national average income. A household of two adults and two children earning about €27,500 or less annually is at risk of poverty.

People are defined as "in consistent poverty" if they are at risk of poverty and are deprived of two or more of 11 basic items, including a warm, waterproof coat, two pairs of shoes, or an adequately warm home.

The CSO survey of 6,000 households found consistent poverty fell from 6.5 per cent in 2006 to 5.1 per cent in 2007. The numbers of people at risk of poverty was 16.5 per cent in 2007, and had not changed significantly. But there was an increase in the number of older people at risk of poverty, from almost 14 per cent in 2006 to almost 17 per cent last year.

The risk of poverty rate for lone-parent households dropped significantly over the same period; from almost 46 per cent to almost 38 per cent. However, lone-parent families continued to be the households most at risk of poverty.

Children also remained very vulnerable to poverty, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all those in consistent poverty.

Though the rate of children in consistent poverty fell from just over 10 per cent in 2006 to just over 7 per cent in 2007, they still do not compare well to working-age adults, who had a rate of just under 5 per cent last year.

The rate of children at risk of poverty has also reduced, though it is still high, at almost 20 per cent compared to 15 per cent for working-age adults.

Adults of working age living alone also featured as high risk, with a risk of poverty of almost 30 per cent. The survey also found the average household net disposable income was €47,988 in 2007, up by 10 per cent on 2006.

It found there is a statistically significant relationship between the likelihood of a household being at risk of poverty and factors including the sex of the head of the household; the number of workers in a house; and whether the house is owned or rented, or in a rural or urban area.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said the results showed significant progress had been achieved in meeting the Government poverty reduction target set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016.

The plan aims to reduce the number of those experiencing consistent poverty to between 2 per cent and 4 per cent by 2012, and eliminate consistent poverty by 2016.

The Minister said the fall in consistent poverty for lone parents and children was evidence of the positive impact of an investment of over €240 million in a range of social welfare measures.

Children's charity Barnardos called on the Government to ensure the modest gains made in poverty reduction were not reversed through further cuts in essential social services.

Fergus Finlay, chief executive of the charity, said despite the decrease in rates of consistent poverty, children remained one of the most vulnerable groups in society. "With the Institute of Public Health in Ireland revealing that the current economic pressures are forcing families to choose between heat and food this winter, it is incumbent on the Government to do everything possible to ensure our country's children do not suffer further," he said.