More affordable housing for rental and purchase is required to ease the cost of accommodation for those on low incomes, a major new study has found.
The report, by Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) economists commissioned by Combat Poverty, also found mortgage holders are not experiencing undue financial strain in meeting their repayments.
The report's in-depth research covers the 1990s but its findings also address trends in the new millennium.
It warns of a poverty risk for private renters whose accommodation costs as a proportion of income was more than double that of home owners. It shows that in 1999-2000 mortgage payments made up about 10 per cent of total household expenditure compared to 21 per cent in the rental sector.
While recognising the situation has eased in recent years, the report blames a decline in the ratio of social housing as a proportion of the total housing stock.
It notes that poverty rates are highest among local authority tenants and says "falling levels of completions and increased demand have led to a dramatic rise in waiting lists, which is one of the factors that has led to rising levels of homelessness".
Speaking at the launch of the Housing, Poverty and Wealth in Ireland, Ms Helen Johnston, Director of the Combat Poverty Agency said: "The report persuasively argues that there must be a greater move in housing policy towards those who cannot afford, or do not wish to pursue, home ownership by expanding options in the private rented sector and in the social housing area."
It warns that promoting the affordability of housing for intending owner occupiers should not be done at the expense of the private or social rented sectors.
It says there is "a clear need" to increase the supply of social rental housing as a proportion of the housing stock. Rent supplements paid through the Social Welfare system is not is not a long-term solution, it continues.
The report also notes Ireland's retains the highest home-ownership rates in the EU, at around 80 per cent and that home ownership in the low-income group is also high at around 60 per cent.