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Families on low incomes need to spend up to one third (33%) of their weekly income to afford a healthy food basket that meets nutritional needs, according to the latest food basket report from Safefood.
Costs were more than 20% higher for households with a teenager at home than those of a household with children of pre-school and primary school age.
The research, which looked at the cost of a minimum essential food basket for six household types - adjusted to reflect food costs in 2024 - found that households reliant on social welfare spend a larger percentage of their take home income on food compared to households with an employed adult.
The average family of two parents on state benefits and two children, where the older child was in secondary school, had a total weekly food basket cost of €198 or 33% of their take home income.
For a one-parent household relying on state benefits with two children of pre-school and primary school age, their weekly basket cost €122 or 28% of their take home income.
This was 12% higher than if the adult was employed earning the national minimum wage.
Among pensioners, the total weekly healthy food basket cost ranged from €72 for a single pensioner to €90 for a couple.
According to the most recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, food price inflation in Ireland rose to a 20-month high of 5% in August this year.
www.rte.ie
I know my shopping basket has gone up, I would say an extra 60 euro compared to this time last year.
Its not just Ireland though, my the recent time I spend in Spain this year, I was shocked to see their prices have gone up as I imagine all of Europe has.
Costs were more than 20% higher for households with a teenager at home than those of a household with children of pre-school and primary school age.
The research, which looked at the cost of a minimum essential food basket for six household types - adjusted to reflect food costs in 2024 - found that households reliant on social welfare spend a larger percentage of their take home income on food compared to households with an employed adult.
The average family of two parents on state benefits and two children, where the older child was in secondary school, had a total weekly food basket cost of €198 or 33% of their take home income.
For a one-parent household relying on state benefits with two children of pre-school and primary school age, their weekly basket cost €122 or 28% of their take home income.
This was 12% higher than if the adult was employed earning the national minimum wage.
Among pensioners, the total weekly healthy food basket cost ranged from €72 for a single pensioner to €90 for a couple.
According to the most recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, food price inflation in Ireland rose to a 20-month high of 5% in August this year.
Low earners can spend up to 33% of income on healthy food
Families on low incomes need to spend up to one third (33%) of their weekly income to afford a healthy food basket that meets nutritional needs, according to the latest food basket report from Safefood.
I know my shopping basket has gone up, I would say an extra 60 euro compared to this time last year.
Its not just Ireland though, my the recent time I spend in Spain this year, I was shocked to see their prices have gone up as I imagine all of Europe has.
