‘Targeted' social welfare increase latest after Child Benefit plot in ‘key' budget move as shock report details poverty

The Irish Sun

5 days ago

TARGETED social welfare supports are "essential" in Budget 2026 for Irish families at highest risk of poverty, experts have claimed.
The Economic and Social Research Institute made the claim after it published a shocking report on the complexities of income poverty.
Almost a fifth of people were deemed at risk of
On average, 22 per cent of the population experienced deprivation at least once in two consecutive years from 2016 to 2023.
And almost half of these were in persistent deprivation, slightly less than a third were exiting deprivation and about a quarter were entering deprivation.
The study noted that there was a post-pandemic spike observed amongst lone-parent families, 30 to 65-year-old single people, adults above 65, and especially amongst single people over 65.
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It found that one parent families, large families, and households with a working-age adult with a disability faced the highest risks of persistent at-risk-of-poverty rate and deprivation.
And children in lone parent families, in particular, are most at risk.
An average of 33 per cent of them are persistently deprived, and 21 per cent are persistently at-risk-of-poverty, between 2016 and 2023.
The report said that implementing 'targeted' policy measures to support lone parents, large families, and households with a person with disabilities is essential to help those at high risk of poverty.
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It said timely adjustments to social welfare payments, including pensions, would be 'critical' to
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The ESRI previously found that Ireland's system of child-related cash and in-kind benefits has significantly reduced child income poverty and deprivation.
And considering further ways to reduce child poverty, the researchers called for a second tier of means-tested Child Benefit, claiming it would be the "most cost-effective option".
CHILD BENEFIT CALLS
The call comes after the government confirmed it is "working on" a second-tier of the monthly €140
Child Benefit is a universal payment, meaning Irish parents can receive the cash regardless of their income and PRSI record up until a child is 18.
A second tier of the social welfare payment would lift 55,000 children out of income poverty and bring 25,000 more from consistent poverty.
The
'LARGE FAMILIES MOST AT RISK'
Co-author Anousheh Alamir said today's report highlighted 'the complex nature of poverty'.
She also said it spotlighted how different groups face different risks over various time periods.
She said: "Over two year stretches, lone parent families and households with a disabled adult are found to be the most at risk of income poverty and/or material deprivation for one year only.
'And while they are also the most likely to be materially deprived two years in a row, large families are the most at risk of income poverty during that time.
'Thus, different groups are vulnerable to different forms and durations of poverty, an insight that should be key for effective policy.'
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The annual risk of poverty declined last year
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