Quarter of Northern Ireland children 'living in poverty'

from Ireland Com

More than 100,000 children in Northern Ireland - one in four - are living in poverty, according to figures released by Save the Children today.

The children's charity called on First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to make eradication of child poverty one of the key priorities of the new Executive.

The call was made in Save the Children's first annual report on the state of child poverty in Northern Ireland - A 2020 Vision - announced at Clifton House, Belfast's former Poor House.

Alex Tennant, a researcher with the charity, said: "The eradication of child poverty should be the priority goal of the new Assembly, transforming society, making it a better, fairer, safer place for our children, and for all of us.

It was estimated that there were 130,000 children in poverty in Northern Ireland in 1999 - now reduced to 100,000 - and that it should be cut to 65,000 by 2010. That means action is needed to take 35,000 children out of poverty in the next three years if the 2010 transitional target is to be reached.

The Save the Children report said the restoration of the Assembly, coupled with the main parties' commitment to tackling the issue, had created positive conditions for progress.