Quarter of Derry/Strabane children (7,266) experiencing poverty – the highest in the North
One in four children in Derry & Strabane are living in poverty with the district posting the highest rate in the North, a new report has shown.
Anti-poverty campaigners in the city have said the level of regional disparity is unacceptable.
New annual statistics on the number and proportion of children living in low income families for every council in the North and Great Britain were published by the Department for Work and Pensions on Thursday.
The data show that in Derry City and Strabane 7,266 (23 per cent) were deemed to be experiencing child poverty after housing costs.
Becca Bor, Development Coordinator at the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network, explained that the experience of poverty is not even across the North.
It is unacceptable that the figure is 14 per cent in Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, but rises to 23 per cent of children in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, the NI Anti-Poverty Network said.
It also noted that at Parliamentary Constituency level 1 in 4 children in Belfast West and in Newry and Armagh are living in poverty.
Ms. Bor stated: “Government needs to continue to invest in households to reduce child poverty levels. Thanks to relentless campaigning by the Cliff Edge Coalition, and Child poverty organisations across NI and the UK, the two-child limit is finally going to be scrapped in April. And, here in the North, the benefit cap is mitigated, further protecting our children here.
“But government must do more. This means strengthening Universal Credit to implement the ‘Essentials Guarantee’ so that at a minimum, UC reflects the cost of essentials, and providing more support to families with children, such as a child payment.
“Stormont must immediately prioritise tackling Child Poverty. Too many children are struggling to survive, let alone thrive in our communities. The pressure on households is immense and relentless - too many parents are at breaking point. Our children's welfare is our absolute priority, they need to be nurtured, supported and loved.”
The End Child Poverty Coalition and the Northern Ireland Anti Poverty Network has urges the UK government and Stormont to continue investment to reduce child poverty levels.