These questions were sparked when an internet storm was triggered by an American substack post calling into question the metrics underpinning the poverty line in the US. For a household of two adults and one child, the official poverty line is around €645 a week, or €33,643 a year. Cross that income line, and by our definitions you’re not poor. Now, think back to that official poverty line: €33,600 for this household type. In Ireland, this group, “the working poor”, will determine future elections.

Source: The Irish Times December 07, 2025 06:47 UTC