The Combat Poverty Agency has urged all arms of the State to coordinate efforts to prevent health inequalities as well as food and fuel inflation.
Launching its annual report, the poverty watchdog warned that the current economic decline makes it critical that the Government does not lose focus on its target of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016.
Chairman Brian Duncan told journalists that when the Government promised to rescue some 300,000 people from consistent poverty ministers had not envisaged the sharp decline in the economy.
He conceded that it would now be easy for the Cabinet to deviate from the ambitious target.
However, Mr Duncan said that it was critical now, more that ever, that we do not lose focus on it.
The EU defines the consistently poor as those living on less than €210 a week and lacking two basic necessities like a warm coat and a hot daily meal.
Mr Duncan said tacking poverty and social exclusion needs to be at the heart of policies on employment, education and training, health and housing.
He said current pressure points such as health inequalities, as well as food and fuel inflation need to be addressed before they become very problematic.
Meanwhile, facing into what is expected to be the harshest Budget in many years, the agency's Acting Director, Kevin O'Kelly, said people on lower incomes had to be protected.
He said that if there is pain to be shared those on higher incomes should shoulder it.
