Social Transfers and Poverty Alleviation in Ireland, 2004 - 2011

A new research report and briefing on Social Transfers and Poverty Alleviation in Ireland by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) was published on the 11th December, 2013.

The research examines the role of social transfers in income redistribution and poverty alleviation in Ireland. The study covers the period 2004 to 2011, a time of rapid economic change, spanning both strong economic growth and deep recession. The research provides insights on why social transfers played a greater role in alleviating poverty and deprivation in Ireland. It assesses the impact of social transfers across different life cycle groups and benchmarks Ireland against other EU15 countries.

The research finds that social transfers (including pensions) reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate by 53 per cent in 2004, rising to 71 per cent by 2011. It shows that between 2005 and 2010 Ireland moved from the middle towards the top of the range of EU15 countries in poverty reduction effectiveness, as measured with respect to the poverty gap.

The report and research briefing are outputs of the Department of Social Protection / Economic and Social Research Institute research programme on monitoring poverty trends under the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016. This programme provides evidence and analysis to inform policy.

The findings were presented at a national conference in the ESRI. Conference materials are available to be downloaded.