71,000 families living in poverty
07/10/2003 - 14:30:45The Combat Poverty Agency has estimated that 71,000 families now experience consistent poverty in Ireland.
This means that these families are forced to live on less than €172 per adult per week.
Child poverty is also thought to be relatively high, with 6.5% of children at risk of consistent poverty, and nearly a quarter of all under 18s living in low-income households.
In its Annual Report, the agency is demanding that the Government prioritise the problem during its presidency of the EU in 2004, which is the United Nations International Year of the Family.
Among recommendations made in the report are calls to raise the minimum social welfare rates to €150 per week and child benefit to €34.50.
