The Central Statistics Office (CSO) data on Enforced Deprivation shows almost 900,000 people were going without basics prior to the pandemic – an increase of over 140,000 from the previous year. More than one in five children are now experiencing enforced deprivation.

"It is distressing that more than half of all COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing care facilities," said Bishop Michael Router, chairman of the Episcopal Council for Healthcare.

“Protestants have a history of wealth while Catholics do not.”

Children are living in households which are going 24 hours without a substantial meal, or being cold because parents are unable to afford to heat the home.

“The State should not favour one particular childcare choice over another ... The State should allocate resources in such a way as to financially support the various choices parents want to make about the care of their children during the day.”

“This census data ... demolishes many of the myths that people have about ‘the homeless’. It shows that people who are homeless look very much like everyone else in the population.”

More needs to be done, otherwise too many of our children will spend their childhoods going without basics like secure housing, healthy food and suitable clothing.

Peter McVerry Trust calls for compulsory purchase of vacant buildings in private ownership.