The Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Survey revealed that severe material deprivation affected 9.1 per cent of persons living in private households in 2012, the National Statistics Office reported today.

The SILC survey showed that the most common type of residential private dwelling during 2012 were apartments followed by semi-detached or terraced houses. Just under a third of main dwellings contained 5 rooms.

The share of households in arrears with mortgage, rent payments or utility bills was less than 10 per cent. Still, 40 per cent reported they were finding it difficult to make ends meet.

The majority of households had 2 persons (28 per cent) living in them. On the other hand, one-person households made up 23 per cent of the total, while households with at least 5 persons accounted for 9 per cent.

Over three-fourths of dwellings were owned, with 61 per cent of households being without a mortgage. The survey also indicated that tenants were mainly households without dependent children. This cohort accounted for 84 per cent of households. The average monthly rental value of property varied according to the size of the property and household type.

Fifty-six per cent of respondents perceived housing costs as a heavy burden compared to the 8 per cent which considered this expense as immaterial. The average monthly housing cost recorded in 2012 was €173.

Nearly 40 per cent of households replied that they experienced pollution, grime or other environmental problems in their area, while 31 per cent complained of noise pollution in the neighbourhood.

Over 95 per cent of households owned a telephone, a colour television and a washing machine. 28 per cent and 18 per cent of households respectively did not own a computer or a car, although the percentage of households who could not afford to do so was less than 3 per cent in both cases.

In addition, 87 per cent of households could afford to eat a meal with chicken, meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, while three- fourths could face unexpected financial expenses and keep their home adequately warm in winter. However, over half of households replied that they could not afford to pay for a one-week annual holiday away from home.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate stood at 15 per cent in 2012, while the material deprivation and severe material deprivation rates stood at 20 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.

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