SDLP councillor Angela Dobbins
Said the Ballyarnett Councillor: “I welcome the support of Derry and Strabane 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.
“It is long before time that Minister Hargey and the Department for Communities get real on child poverty and stop passing the buck.
“They committed to producing a Child Poverty Strategy more than a year ago and it has not yet materalised.
“The issue is absolutely urgent and it’s about time the Minister treats it as such. I hope she heeds the call of Derry City Council and convenes a child poverty task force.”
