New ESRI research finds more children experiencing deprivation, despite being above the official poverty threshold

June 17, 2025

Social Inclusion and Equality
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A new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), published today in partnership with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), examines child deprivation in Ireland. It focuses on children who experience deprivation but are not classified as at-risk-of-poverty (AROP). As a result, they fall outside the official consistent poverty measure, which is a combined measure of AROP and deprivation. The report uses data from the Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) to investigate the composition and characteristics of this group. The report underscores the need for comprehensive policies to improve living standards for vulnerable families.

Key Findings

  • The number of children defined as deprived but not AROP has increased, with 17% of children defined as such in 2023 compared to 12% in 2020.
  • More than half of deprived not AROP children live in households with incomes slightly above the poverty line—specifically, between 60% and 80% of the median income.
  • Adjusting income to account for housing costs moves many of these children below the poverty line, highlighting the burden of housing expenses on family living standards.
  • Among children who are deprived but not AROP, 39% live in households where at least one person over the age of 16 has a disability, and 41% live in lone parent households. Due to the extra costs associated with disability, households that include a disabled person do not have the same standard of living as households with the same income but without a disabled member.
  • Other risk factors include migrant status, low education levels and unemployment of adults in the household.
  • The households of children who are deprived but not AROP experience significant financial strain, with debt problems and heavy burdens from loan repayments comparable to those in consistent poverty.

Policy Implications

The findings of this report suggest that:

  • Current poverty measures may not fully capture the extent of deprivation experienced by children in Ireland. Future poverty measurement should consider a range of income thresholds to identify those households already experiencing a lower standard of living who are at risk of falling into consistent poverty.
  • Adjusting income measures for housing costs can better capture the impact of the current housing crisis on the standard of living of Irish households.
  • Efforts to address child poverty need to address the substantial risks faced by lone parents and people with disability.  
  • A multi-faceted policy approach is required to reach children experiencing deprivation. Tapering all income supports is important so those just above the income thresholds are not fully excluded. Supports targeted at areas of high deprivation (such as the DEIS scheme) as well as universal services are also needed to reach children that are deprived but not AROP.

Co-author of the report Dr Helen Russell, said: “High housing costs,  debt problems and the additional costs of disability are some of the factors which mean that households face difficulty converting their income into an adequate standard of living. Measures to address housing affordability, debt relief services and additional disability supports are therefore all part of the necessary policy response.”

Eva Slevin, co-author of the report, said: “The report highlights the serious challenges faced by families whose incomes are above the poverty line but still experience deprivation. These challenges include high levels of financial strain, difficulty coping with unexpected expenses and high levels of depression and poor health among household heads. These problems are on a similar scale to those captured by the official ‘consistent poverty’ measure, suggesting this group should also be considered for policy intervention.”

Minister Norma Foley, TD said:  “Tackling child poverty is a priority for the Government and requires everyone across Government to work together to give children the futures they deserve. How we think about children experiencing poverty and deprivation should reflect the multidimensional reality of children’s lives. I welcome today’s research, which helps to deepen that understanding and will further drive our ambition to reduce child poverty and improve the lives of children in Ireland.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said: “I strongly welcome the publication of this important report, which helps us better understand the factors contributing to deprivation and poverty among children. This report gives us information we can use to make children’s lives better. The report will help us to target responses to our most vulnerable children and to ensure that every child gets the start they deserve.”