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The rich in Ireland take home one quarter of the country’s national income, according to stark new figures.

A new economic report by TASC found that the working and middle class bear the brunt in Ireland.

It showed there is a huge divide between the wealthy and poor with a “disproportionate share of national income” going to the rich.

And a staggering one quarter of Ireland’s income goes to just 10% of the population.

The bottom 40% of the population receives just 22% of the national income while the top one percent receives over 5%.

Report author Dr Robert Sweeney explained: “When compared to the more equal countries in Europe, it is not so much the poorest that fare as badly.

“Where Ireland is unusual is in the low share of national income that goes to the working-to-lower middle classes.

“The top ten percent does nicely and the top one percent in particular.

“This suggests that the problem for the struggling and too often invisible working groups is one of insufficient pay.”

Dr Sweeney added: “Ireland has a comparatively employer friendly labour market.

“For instance, collective bargaining coverage is low. As well as predisposing Ireland to having higher market inequality, this leads overall to higher levels of low-pay.

“When this is coupled with low rates and intensity of employment, another economic feature particular to Ireland, this raises further the risk of deprivation and poverty.”

The ‘The State We Are In’ and co-author of a broader European report, ‘Cherishing All Equally 2019’, report also found that while Government tax and social welfare is helping the poorest in society, it also found that it is enabling poor work practices to continue.

However, TASC said that while Ireland has a serious structural problem with pay inequality, there is scope for redistribution between high and low-pay workers and between labour and capital, particularly in sectors like retail.

(Image: Getty Images)

Author of ‘The State We Are In’ and co-author of a broader European report, ‘Cherishing All Equally 2019’,

The report also found that the divide between the rich and poor is heightened by Ireland’s relatively high cost of living.

In many incidences, the working to lower middle classes find that they are above the thresholds for access to services including health, housing and child care, only further adding to the burden of inequality.

The number of people who are also ‘at risk of poverty’ remains high in Ireland at 24%, and is surpassed only by the Southern and certain Eastern European states.

The report also found that 27.3% of children were at risk of poverty in 2016.

It concluded: “Most of the inequality in Irish society is generated within industries.

“Though Ireland has a comparative glut of high and low-pay sectors, and consequently differences in income between sectors make a higher contribution to inequality here, that contribution is still modest.

“In relation to average levels in small open economies and the UK, every sector but one is more unequal in Ireland.

“This suggests Ireland has a structural problem with pay inequality. Indeed, there appears to be significant scope for redistribution between high and low-pay workers and between labour and capital.”