The Combat Poverty Agency has warned that Ireland still has a comparatively high level of poverty and social exclusion despite its economic success.
The agency, which published its annual report for 2003 in Dublin today, also said the country's position compared to the developed countries of the EU is a matter of "serious concern".
Ms Helen Johnston, director of Combat Poverty Ireland, said "the EU Measure of Poverty Risk shows 21 per cent of the population living below the 60 per cent income poverty line. This is compared to an EU average of 15 per cent."
"Combat Poverty welcomes the progress which has been made in bringing down consistent poverty. But Ireland has become a very divided society with a growing polarisation in income distribution," she added.
Ms Johnston said child poverty in particular is an issue of concern as it affects children's nutrition and health and, indirectly, their schooling.
Among the developments the agency is calling for are increased social welfare payments for people who are unable to work, a tax and social welfare system that encourages people to move from welfare to well paid jobs, and further resources for child care provision.
Combat Poverty was set up in 1986 and is the Republic's sole national statutory organisation dedicated to advising on ways to prevent and eliminate poverty and social exclusion.