A joint report by TASC and ICTU has found that the gap between the higher paid and the lower paid is widening.
The report called the Hierarchy of Earnings, Attributes and Privilege examines the distribution of wealth and income in Ireland.
One of the authors of the report, Professor Terry McDonagh of NUIG, said the widening of the gap between the better-off and those on lower incomes is a result of the Government not applying the resources that were available during the Celtic Tiger.
TASC director Paula Clancy said the findings show that this is not the time for the Government to reduce social welfare payments.
The report also found that 20% of people in the country are living in households where the combined income is less than €20,000.
