TASC leads with intersectionality on inequality, isolation and loneliness

TASC’s flagship annual report, The State We Are In: Inequality in Ireland 2025, highlights inequality as a central issue for both economic research and policymaking. While Ireland’s challenges mirror global trends, they are also shaped by uniquely local factors. This year’s report explores the short-term relief brought by recent cost-of-living support alongside the deeper, persistent structural inequalities that continue to affect Irish society. 

Amid this broader analysis, a special chapter, authored by Adeelia Goffe, Maria Pachowicz and Oisín Gilmore, focuses on loneliness and inequality—shedding light on how social isolation is both a consequence and a driver of systemic disadvantage.  

When considered within the report as a whole, the special chapter on loneliness, inequality and isolation deepens our understanding of how structural disadvantage impacts not only financial security but also social wellbeing. It highlights that experiences of loneliness are rarely the same and do not impact everyone equally; instead, they are deeply shaped by factors such as belonging to a marginalised group and living in poverty. By spotlighting these connections, the chapter reinforces the report’s broader message: that lasting progress on poverty and inequality depends on sustained, systemic investment in social protections and public infrastructure - investments that enable all citizens to thrive both socially and economically, not merely survive. 

A lonely country on the rise 

Ireland is experiencing a loneliness crisis. A 2022 EU-wide survey found that more than 1 in 5 people in Ireland feel lonely most or all of the time - the highest rate in the entire EU. Worryingly, this isn’t just a post-pandemic blip. Ireland has become lonelier over time, with many people feeling a tangible decline in social connectedness and basic day-to-day civility.  

But this isn’t new information for TASC. Over the years, our research with disadvantaged communities has repeatedly found how loneliness is growing while social connection is breaking down. Participants from TASC studies have named gentrification, changes to social housing, and emigration (as in the movement of people to live elsewhere) as key drivers tearing apart once-close communities.  

What’s happening is more than a social shift - it’s the product of a gradual erosion of traditional support networks that once held communities together. A system of networks which Ireland has traditionally relied upon. And the health, economic, and social costs of neglecting to address this movement are becoming harder to ignore.  

When isolation and inequality collide 

But it’s important to stress: loneliness doesn’t affect everyone equally. This is an intersectional issue, shaped by overlapping forms of disadvantage.  

• Immigrants 

• People with disabilities 

• LGBTQ+ communities 

• Those living in poverty 

Face multiple barriers to connection—from discrimination and economic hardship to lack of accessible services and reduced familial networks. Life transitions - like bereavement or retirement - and health issues - particularly among older adults - can also lead to reduced social networks. Structural inequalities amplify feelings of isolation, making loneliness more acute and harder to escape for some groups. 

Ignoring loneliness comes at a cost for everyone 

Beyond the immediate emotional experience of loneliness itself, Adeelia, Maria and Oisín demonstrate how it hugely affects both mental and physical health. Studies show that loneliness is linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, heart problems, and even weaker immune systems. People who feel lonely for a long time often report lower life satisfaction and tend to use healthcare services more often. Loneliness also appears to make you more likely to participate in unhealthy behaviours like smoking, drinking alcohol, and engaging in less exercise. This is especially acute for those living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.  

Beyond the individual impact, loneliness creates bigger social and economic problems, like higher healthcare costs and less community cohesion. Loneliness must not be overlooked or lost amid efforts to tackle inequality in Ireland - it is deeply interconnected with these challenges. And even if you don’t experience loneliness yourself, its ripple effects touch all of us - through strained health systems, lost productivity, and communities that don’t thrive. 

Designing solutions that fit real lives 

While the special chapter tackles a widespread, systemic issue, Adeelia, Maria and Oisín avoid the trap of oversimplification. Rather than advocating a one-size-fits all solution, they emphasise the diversity of people’s lived experiences and the necessity of addressing this complexity through a multifaceted policy approach.  

Each of the chapter’s recommendations reflects a commitment to targeted intervention, consistent with the report’s intersectional framework and its attention to diverse lived experiences. 

• Develop a national strategy with dedicated funding to provide a clear, structured framework for coordinated action. 

• Enhance community infrastructure to make social engagement easier and more accessible 

• Promote intergenerational programs and volunteer opportunities to create opportunities for meaningful social interaction across age groups 

• Run public awareness campaigns to help reduce the stigma around loneliness and encourage people to seek support when needed 
• Embed loneliness indicators in public health and social planning to ensure the issue is consistently recognised and addressed within policy making   

Ultimately, this special focus chapter is a reminder that tackling inequality means addressing both its economic and social dimensions. Loneliness isn’t a secondary concern - it’s a clear example of how structural disadvantage plays out in people’s daily lives. As this year’s report argues, building a fairer, more resilient Ireland will take systemic, sustained investment - not just in temporary income supports, but in the social fabric that helps communities thrive.  

Posted in: Economics • Health

Maisie Greener

Maisie Greener is a recent graduate from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in English Studies. She has worked as an Arts and Culture Editor for Trinity News, a Junior Editor for the Eagle: Law Gazette and the publishing manager for Trinity Policy Journal. She is a communications intern at TASC and is interesting in pursuing a career in political communications.