Lone parents continue to be one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to poverty and deprivation. According to the report, 33% of children in lone-parent families were persistently deprived between 2016 and 2023.

One in five were persistently at risk of poverty, meaning they lived below the income threshold two years in a row.

These families are also among the most likely to experience material deprivation, going without essentials like adequate heating, proper meals, or warm clothing—not just occasionally, but consistently.

Earlier, Derrick Lynch spoke with Ursula, a lone parent from Kilshanny and began by how it affects her.

As we widen the lens, Derrick Lynch was also joined by Ann Marie Flanagan, a disability rights activist, to talk about another group the ESRI identifies as being at high risk: households with a working-age adult who has a disability.

While the overall poverty rate has declined in recent years, the report shows that material deprivation has actually increased, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

And for families where disability is a factor, the risk of persistent hardship remains high, due to extra living costs, limited employment opportunities, and gaps in support.