A report to be published today reveals that nine out of 10 children living in the Tallaght West area experience fear of anti-social behaviour or crime.
The study, the first research of its kind in Ireland, paints a devastating picture of poverty, social exclusion and deprivation in the west Dublin suburb.
Entitled How are our kids?, the study of the 21,000-strong population of Tallaght West says the majority of children are carrying a "disproportionate burden of the inequality and poverty characterising Irish society as a whole".
More than one in four live in houses without adequate heating, resulting in children feeling cold and damp every day. Nearly one in three parents say they live in unsatisfactory environments for bringing up children.
The study was based on analysis of census data and surveys of a representative sample of parents of 187 children in the Killinarden, Brookfield, Fettercairn and Jobstown areas.
It was conducted by the UK-based Dartington Social Research Unit and a coalition of groups in the area called the Childhood Development Initiative.
The report was funded by the US-based philanthropic organisation Atlantic Philanthropies, an organisation associated with US billionaire Mr Chuck Feeney.
It finds that children's development and learning are put at risk by a high level of adult depression, while half live in families dependent on State benefits.
According to the report, 10 per cent of people over the age of 15 in Tallaght West are unemployed, while one-third of households are headed by a lone parent.
It says 57 per cent of households are in local authority accommodation compared to a national average of 10.4 per cent.
It says 27 per cent of those who had ceased their education did so without any formal qualification, while 34 per cent had finished at Junior Cert level.
One in three children are being bullied at school, while 43 per cent missed between five and 20 days of school.
However, it says 68 per cent of parents said their child was achieving his or her potential at school.
The report says lack of privacy (70 per cent) and incidences of abuse also feature prominently in the lives of many children.
More than 60 per cent live with parents who do not have a Leaving Cert. However, 75 per cent experience good relationships both with and between their parents, while most are also in good health.
The report criticises current arrangements in the area, which, due to their short-term nature, are not meeting the needs of children. It also highlights the lack of resources to support the work of existing community groups.
Ms Katherine Zappone, the director of the project, said the report demonstrated that, despite the best efforts of those involved in the area and some increased investment, Tallaght West still lagged significantly behind the rest of the country.
"It's the first community survey on the needs of children and families done with the view of designing responses," she said.
"It provides a real opportunity to do long-term planning with a group of people who have worked in the area for a long time.
"It could significantly shift the development of this area which has been designated disadvantaged for so long. And if it could do this here, it could do it in other similar towns around the country."
The study is part of a wider project which will cost €500,000. The study began a year ago.
Key Recommendations
The provision of adequate heating in all houses. When heating is restricted to a single room, it leaves no place for parents to take a break, or for children to do their homework
Attention to the environment, and play spaces in particular. Lack of respect for the environment can give rise to vandalism, with few designated play spaces leading some children to trespass onto private land
Provision of extra-curricular opportunities for children. Cultural and sporting facilities can combat childhood depression and give parents a break
Provision of pre-school places. There are only 300 pre-school places for 3,000 children in the Tallaght West area. Such places can improve children's long-term educational prospects
Adult education and training programmes
The introduction of targeted prevention programmes developed in other countries
A "fresh start" approach to help parents living in a stressful environment. This could include groups of community volunteers to help them with their day-to-day problems and could improve parent well-being
Mentoring of children - better integration of existing services including improved interaction with social workers and gardaí.