Photograph: iStockAlmost 15 per cent of the population were deprived of basic needs in 2025, Central Statistics Office figures show. People living in enforced deprivation are defined as those living in a household that cannot afford two or more of the 11 basic deprivation items considered to be the norm. A Social Justice Ireland analysis of the CSO figures found that 807,873 people were impacted this year, including almost 236,000 children. In 2025, 26.6 per cent of households regarded housing costs as a heavy financial burden, down on the 2024 rate of 29.5 per cent, the CSO said. Three in 10 single-adult households with children went into debt to meet ordinary living expenses in 2025.

Source: The Irish Times December 08, 2025 21:48 UTC