SDLP Social Justice Spokeperson Mark H Durkan responded to the Poverty Bulletin 2018/19 produced by the Department for Communities describing the figures as a disgrace.
It reveals that one in five children and 12 per cent of pensioners are in what is described as “absolute poverty”.
Said the Foyle MLA: “These statistics are nothing short of a disgrace.
“The fact that one in five children are in “absolute poverty” is frightening and a damning indictment on our society.
“These figures have substantially increased in recent years too, which is another cause for concern – particularly when we consider the catastrophic impact that the current pandemic is having now and will continue to have in the longer term.
“These statistics show that 16% of our people are in absolute poverty, including 12% of our pensioners.
“This report is deeply worrying and behind the figures are families and children living in poverty and anxiety.
“We must do more to end poverty. It is nothing short of an outrage that a well-off society has so many children living in poverty, with 36,000 food parcels issued in one year, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I will be raising this issue with Minister Hargey at the earliest opportunity.
“I will also be asking her to work with me and colleagues across the Assembly to urgently address this issue and improve the Dickensian conditions which many across the North are living in and dying in,” added Mr DUrkan.
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