The rate of poverty among lone parents who work more than doubled in just five years, a new report has found.

Figures from the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) show that one in eleven working lone parents were living below the poverty line in 2012.

However, that had increased to one in five by 2017.

The report suggests that "Ireland is failing to protect lone parents and their children from the adverse affects of poverty".

Dr Tricia Keilthy, author of the report, 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 means that it's very difficult for many families to make ends meet."

Lone parents

Other key findings in the report include that 84% of lone parents in Ireland are unable to meet unexpected expenses.

It shows that the living standards of lone parents in Ireland are among the worst in Europe.

The report found Ireland has the second highest rates of income poverty, persistent poverty and severe deprivation among EU-15 peer countries.

Almost 60% of lone parents said that they couldn’t access childcare services due to cost.

The report also notes that employment rates are three times higher among lone parents with third-level education.

However, one in five lone parents reported that they couldn’t access formal education for financial reasons.