SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has described new figures released this week on the proportion of individuals in relative poverty as evidence of the government’s failure to tackle disadvantage and regional inequalities.
The Northern Ireland Poverty and Income Inequality Report (2022-23), revealed that Derry City & Strabane has the highest proportion of individuals in relative poverty after housing costs of any Local Government District at 24%, double the proportion in the district with the lowest costs (Lisburn & Castlereagh at 12%).
Said Ms. McLaughlin: “Behind these statistics are thousands of families across our city and district who have been abandoned by government and trapped in cycles of intergenerational poverty.
“The fact that in 2024, around a quarter of our population in this region are in relative poverty after housing costs is a sad indictment of the government’s failure to agree an Anti-Poverty Strategy and put in place the kind of deliberate interventions that are required in order to move the needle and give opportunity to all of our people.
“I’m also concerned by just how little these figures have moved over the last ten years.
“It would be insanity to continue to adopt the same approaches as were pursued in the last Assembly mandate and expect this record of failure to change.
“I believe a different approach is needed, starting with the Executive agreeing an Anti-Poverty Strategy that is based on objective need.
“It is also totally unacceptable that the proportion of people in our region who live in relative poverty after housing costs is double the proportion in other areas.
“In the Assembly, I have been making the case for new legislation that mandates all government Departments to measure these regional inequalities and then puts in place investment in those areas where the market and policy has failed.
“We can’t afford our economic policy to remain regionally blind. It’s long past time to shine a light on the inequality that exists and then take steps to address it.
“We’ve had a lot of photo ops over recent weeks since the Assembly returned, but the real mark of success for the government will be ending poverty in our society and ensuring that no-one’s postcode determines their fate.
“Until this is achieved, I will continue to hold the Executive accountable.”
