WHILE ALMOST EVERYONE in Ireland has seen disposable incomes shrink considerably in recent years, those who fall into the top 10 per cent of earners have experienced an increase of 8 per cent.

In a recent report on living standards in Ireland, the Central Statistics Office reports that in 2010 those on the “lowest income decile experienced a decrease in equivalised disposable income of more than 26 per cent while those in the highest income decile experienced an increase in income of more than 8 per cent”.

The report states:

While it is acknowledged that the decile income limits and composition of each decile change from year to year, an examination of equivalised disposable income by decile between 2009 and 2010 was carried out. Results showed an uneven distribution of the percentage change in equivalised disposable income across the deciles.

Those in the lowest income decile experienced a decrease in equivalised disposable income of more than 26 per cent while those in the highest income decile experienced an increase in income of more than8 per cent.

Disposable income falls and risk of poverty rises: CSO>