Social Risk and Social Class Patterns in Poverty and Quality of Life in Ireland

The report draws on the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2004 to 2013 to examine trends in poverty and deprivation in Ireland over a ten-year period covering the boom years, the recession and early recovery. It looks at trends across social classes and social risk groups such as lone parents, people with a disability and children.

Responding to the need for broader measures of social progress that go beyond income-related measures, the report also looks at quality of life (QoL) dimensions such as health, relationships, the lived environment and trust in societal institutions. Analysis of the special 2013 SILC module on wellbeing provides an insight into how QoL problems varied across social risk groups and social classes in Ireland, in 2013.

The results highlighted the significance of lone parenthood and working-age disability as major risk factors for poverty, deprivation and multiple quality of life problems. The study concludes that income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services are required to address the challenges facing people in social risk groups and those in lower social classes.

The report is an output of the Department’s research programme with the ESRI for the Analysis and Measurement of Poverty and Social Exclusion (AMPSE). The findings were presented at a national research conference in the ESRI on 16th November 2016.