Lone parent families are among those who face the highest risks of poverty and deprivation, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

The new research examined persistent income poverty and material deprivation between 2015 and 2023.

The report says lone parent families, large families, and households with a working-age adult with a disability faced the highest risks of persistent annual at-risk-of-poverty [AROP] and deprivation.

It adds: “Children in lone parent families, in particular, are most at risk, with an average 33pc of them being persistently deprived, and 21pc being persistently AROP, between 2016 and 2023”.

Regarding policy implications, the report says the study highlights “the importance of understanding poverty as a dynamic and multifaceted issue, and the need for a multi-dimensional approach to poverty measurement and policy”.

Bertrand Maître, co-author of the report, said: “Research shows that the longer people stay in poverty, the harder it is for them to escape. This highlights the urgent need to tackle persistent poverty and to design policies that protect the most vulnerable groups from falling into long-term poverty.”