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BBC News NI political correspondent Jayne McCormack reported that a children’s charity, Barnardo’s NI, expressed disappointment in the first draft of the Northern Ireland Executive’s anti-poverty strategy. The strategy, proposed in 2006 to combat social exclusion and deprivation, was deemed “not fit for purpose” by Trása Canavan of Barnardo’s NI. The Executive Committee was found to be in breach of its legal obligation to adopt the strategy earlier this year.
A leaked copy of the document, agreed upon by executive ministers in May but not yet publicized, has prompted concerns from various groups. Canavan, chair of the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group, emphasized that the current draft lacks new actions or funding to effectively address poverty in Northern Ireland. The 28-page paper outlines the executive’s approach to tackling poverty over the next decade and acknowledges the collaborative effort required from multiple sectors.
Canavan emphasized that earlier recommendations made by her group for the document to be effective have not been met in the current draft. The SDLP, Stormont’s official opposition, also expressed disappointment in the strategy, with Mark H Durkan criticizing it as a mere list of vague hopes rather than a concrete plan of action. Measures such as welfare mitigations and strategies for fuel poverty are outlined in the document, but specific concerns about housing and the two-child limit policy were raised by critics.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, responsible for overseeing the development of the draft strategy, defended the document, stating that it reflects the Executive’s priorities amidst fiscal challenges. The Department for Communities highlighted that the consultation process for the strategy will allow for input from various stakeholders to address poverty in Northern Ireland. Despite criticism from advocacy groups and opposition parties, officials are working to launch the consultation promptly for public feedback
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