Poverty plight of Ulster children

from the Belfast Telegraph

By Linda McKee

More than 40,000 children living in poverty in Northern Ireland will only be 48p a week better off as a result of the Chancellor's pre-budget report, according to Save the Children.

The charity said it is angry that the government is behind schedule on its 2020 deadline for eradicating child poverty.

The charity's chief executive said Northern Ireland was playing a crucial role in protecting children in some of the world's worst war-torn blackspots.

Jasmine Whitbread paid tribute to Save the Children volunteers whose efforts help the charity raise over half of its £820,000 annual spend here, bringing in around £500,000 a year.

"Northern Ireland and its Save the Children workers have an important role to play in our global network," she said.

And she added: "Indeed, the Good Friday Agreement was the first peace settlement in the world to recognise the plight of children and young people in conflict situations."