A UNICEF report has found that around a third of Irish children live in deprived circumstances.

The UN charity is releasing a report card for all OECD countries highlighting poverty and growing inequality in wealthy nations.

It shows many youngsters here are not getting a balanced diet and do not have adequate heating in their homes.

Children are considered materially deprived when their household cannot afford three or more out of nine items considered necessary for an adequate life, including being able to face unexpected expenses, to avoid arrears in rent, mortgage and utility bills, and to keep the home adequately heated.

Peter Power, CEO of UNICEF Ireland is worried by the report’s findings.

“While Ireland comes seventh in the overall league table, the report does show that 30% of young Irish people, Irish children, are materially deprived in some respect,” he said.

“That means they may not have a protein meal every other day, their family has problems paying their bills, so there is a growing inequality amongst children and that’s something that policymakers and governments right across Europe must address.”

Ireland currently has the fourth worst income inequality in the EU ranked just below the UK, Belgium and Bulgaria, with a gap of 76.3%.

Our social transfers (social welfare payments etc.) nearly halve this income gap to 41.5%, but UNICEF has deemed this “unsustainable”.

Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland Peter Power: “100 years ago this month the Proclamation proclaimed to cherish all Irish children equally.

“This report demonstrates that as a demographic group Irish children are falling behind other sections of society.”