Council back call for new NI Child Poverty Task Force

The Ballyarnett Councillor said: “I welcome the support of Council colleagues for our motion on child poverty. 22% of all children here in the North live in relative poverty, 122,000 children. These statistics are horrifying and they need to be addressed. While poverty exists in every part of Northern Ireland, my own community in Derry has particularly high levels of deprivation.

“The rise of the Universal Credit claimant count and expected end of the furlough scheme could see a further increase in these numbers, with the two-child tax credit rule and benefit cap only adding to the pressure on families with children.”

Colr. Dobbins urged Minister Hargey and the Department for Communities to honour a commitment to produce a Child Poverty Strategy made more than a year ago. “The issue is absolutely urgent and it’s about time the Minister treats it as such. I hope she heeds the call and convenes a child poverty task force.”