One in two people aged under 34 in employment are struggling to cover their housing costs and going without essentials such as food

Half of all young workers are going without meals to pay their rent.

A new survey by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has revealed that one in two people aged under 34 in employment were struggling to cover their housing costs and going without essentials such as food.

The poll of 1,500 trade union members was carried out this month before the forthcoming meeting between the government and union and employer representatives at the Labour Employer Economic Forum.

Patricia King, the ICTU’s general secretary, said the results of the research were “worse than feared”.

She said: “Lives are being damaged and destroyed and a whole generation of young workers are now feeling alarming levels of frustration, insecurity and despondency with housing.”

Ms King