Ireland reports rise in child poverty despite income growth

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), in partnership with Trinity College Dublin and Community Foundation Ireland, indicates a rise in child poverty in Ireland. Despite an overall increase in national income, income poverty rates grew by 1 per cent between 2023 and 2024 when accounting for housing costs.

Researchers noted that while real growth in household incomes resumed in 2024 after years of stagnation, this growth has been uneven. The top tenth of households saw incomes rise by more than 7 per cent, whereas the bottom half of households saw an increase of only 3 per cent. This trend marks a shift from previous economic periods where income growth was more progressive toward lower-income groups. Experts highlighted sustained increases in child poverty since 2020, particularly among families with children aged zero to five.