One in three children poor: have your say

THE Londonderry public is invited to have its say on a new strategy aimed at tackling child poverty in Northern Ireland at a consultation event in the city next Tuesday.

The Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) has launched a consultation on the draft Child Poverty Strategy, a document which recognises inequality is rife in Londonderry with one in three children poor here.

The Child Poverty Strategy Consultation Document was published before Christmas and starts from the premise that over 30 per cent of children living in the west of the province experienced child poverty in 2008/9.

OFMDFM says it wants people's views on the strategy and how the Executive should take it forward.

A series of consultation meetings is being held throughout Northern Ireland with a meeting scheduled for the City Hotel on Tuesday, January 18, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. The consultation period is due to close on February 6.

To register to attend or receive a copy of the consultation document please contact: Policy Secretariat, Room E3.19, Block E, Castle Buildings, BT4 3SR or email [email protected].

A copy of the documents is also available from our website www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk

The consultation document accepts that where a child lives is an important factor in determining whether they experience poverty or not.

It attests: "Child poverty risk can vary according to where children here. One third of children living in the west of the province, 29 per cent of those living in Belfast, and 15 per cent in the east of the province live in households experiencing poverty in 2008/09 compared to the Northern Ireland rate of 25 per cent of all children experiencing poverty."

Launching the consultation Ministers at the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) said they wanted to hear from those most directly affected by child poverty.