Poor housing bad for kids health and social wellbeing

One in 10 live in unsuitable premises

- JONATHAN MCCAMBRIDGE

GROWING up in poor housing conditions can affect children's health and social wellbeing, a report has found.

The Economic and Social Research Institute published the research which showed the vast majority of children in Ireland are living in adequate housing.

But, using data on children born in 2007-2008 from the Growing Up in Ireland study, the findings showed youngsters living in inadequate housing have worse health and developmental outcomes at nine years old than their peers.

Such premises include those with damp, lack of heating, limited space and in more disorderly neighbourhoods.