Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 May 2022
270. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the research and data material that was used by her Department for the purposes of measuring food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23953/22]
View answerThere is no official food poverty indicator in Ireland. However, in 2012 the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) developed a measure which defined food poverty as the inability to have an adequate and nutritious diet due to issues of affordability or accessibility. This measure is derived using data collected as part of the annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC). For 2020, the achieved sample size for SILC was 4,243 households and 10,683 individuals.
Using this approach food poverty is measured by the percentage of individuals experiencing one of more of the following:
1. Unable to afford a meal with meat, or vegetarian equivalent, every second day. This indicator suggests severe food deprivation, and is one of the 11 deprivation items used for the consistent poverty measure.
2. Unable to afford a weekly roast dinner (or vegetarian equivalent). This indicator refers to the affordability of food, and in addition, the affordability of a cultural norm. While reference to a weekly roast may seem outdated, the indicator refers to those who cannot afford this. This item is also one of the 11 deprivation items used for the consistent poverty measure.
3. Missing one substantial meal in the last fortnight due to lack of money. This item, in its reference to the affordability of food, but not the quality or adequacy of it, refers to severe food deprivation. This item is not one of the 11 deprivation items used for the consistent poverty measure. Also, it is asked of all respondents over 16 years of age whereas the other deprivation items are asked at a household level.
Table 1: Percentage of the population experiencing food poverty
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
|
Food poverty rate (%) |
13.1 |
12.2 |
9.8 |
8.7 |
7.0 |
7.4 |
The most recent Survey of Income and Living Conditions data was published by the CSO last week (6 May 2022) which will enable the calculation of the most recent rate of food poverty based on these indicators.
