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BBC News NI political correspondent Jayne McCormack reported that almost fifty charities and anti-poverty organizations are urging the Northern Ireland Executive to retract its draft strategy to combat poverty, stressing that families “deserve better.” It was noted that an anti-poverty strategy had been pledged by Stormont 19 years ago, but it was only recently endorsed by executive parties. A letter addressed to Stormont ministers emphasized that having a strategy that fails to tackle poverty would be more detrimental than having no strategy at all. The Department for Communities (DfC) stated that the strategy resulted from extensive collaboration with various groups, including the anti-poverty co-design group.
Signatories of the letter include prominent groups such as Save the Children, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), and trade unions. The anti-poverty strategy was made available for public feedback in June for a 14-week period. DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons defended the plan, citing the financial constraints under which Stormont departments are operating. First Minister Michelle O’Neill acknowledged that while the plan could potentially be improved, she denied any discord between Sinn Féin and the DUP regarding it.
The document spotlighted by the article lays out the executive’s strategy to address poverty over the next decade, detailing current efforts among departments to mitigate the risk of individuals falling into poverty, alleviate its effects, and support people in escaping poverty. It emphasized that poverty is a multifaceted issue necessitating collaboration between the executive, community organizations, businesses, councils, and voluntary groups. Additionally, the strategy will be complemented by a delivery program that will be regularly updated.
The letter expressing discontent with the draft anti-poverty strategy voiced disillusionment and frustration with its shortcomings, emphasizing the absence of clearly defined actions or targets. It highlighted the necessity of measurable and time-bound targets within or alongside the strategy, as outlined by expert bodies and oversight entities. The letter concluded by urging the NI Executive to retract its approval of the draft strategy, asserting that a strategy ineffectual in addressing poverty is more harmful than no strategy at all. Notable signatories of the letter included Barnardo’s NI, the Simon Community, Action for Children, NICVA, the Law Centre NI, Age NI, and Conradh na Gaeilge. A DfC spokesperson noted that many recommendations had been considered in the Anti-Poverty Strategy, which is currently under public consultation, inviting all interested parties to participate in the consultation process
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