The rate of poverty among working lone parents more than doubled between 2012 and 2017, a new report has found.
It shows that 1-in-11 working lone parents were living below the poverty line in 2012.
However, that had increased to 1-in-5 five years later.
The data from St Vincent de Paul (SVP) also shows that the living standards of lone parents in Ireland are among the worst in Europe.
Author of the report Dr Tricia Keilthy explained: “It is clear that Ireland is failing to protect lone parents and their children from the adverse affects of poverty.
High housing and childcare costs combined with low levels of income, mean that it is very difficult for many families with children to make ends meet.
She added: "[These factors] also create additional barriers to employment for those who want to take up a job or increase their working hours."
Other key findings in the SVP report include that 84% of lone parents in Ireland are unable to meet unexpected expenses.
Almost 60% of lone parents, meanwhile, said that they couldn’t access childcare services due to cost.
