Press Statement: Rapidly rising deprivation levels demands an urgent response from Government

EAPN Ireland has published a press statement in response to the latest report on enforced deprivation which shows that the numbers of people living in enforced deprivation increased sharply in 2022. Data published this morning shows that there are now over 876,000 people or 17.1% of the population in Ireland who cannot afford at least two of what are considered eleven essential items. This is an increase of over 100,000 people from 2021. The report also shows that almost half of people (49.3%) now have difficulty making ends meet.

The statement calls for an urgent response from Government not only to address the immediate impact of the cost-of-living crisis but the longer structural causes of poverty including adequate income and investment in public services.