More than 30,000 children are living in severe poverty in Northern Ireland, according to new figures revealed today.
The shock statistic that 32,000 children do not enjoy the basic necessities of life was outlined in research commissioned by the charity Save the Children. The figure amounts to eight per cent of the total child population in Northern Ireland.
The research, which will be published in full later this year, was carried out by research consultants, Dr Eithne McLaughlin and Ms Marina Monteith from the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen's University, Belfast.
Ms Monteith described the grim reality for many children in Northern Ireland. "For example one in five do not have fresh fruit and vegetables and one in seven do not have three meals a day.
"These children do not have enough clothing or a warm, safe and healthy environment. Forty per cent live in households where the gas, electricity or phone have been cut off."
Mr Sheri Chamberlain, NI programme director of Save the Children said she welcomed the fact that the British government and the devolved administration have both shown a willingness to tackle the issue of child poverty.
"However, what we found was stark: 32,000 of our children are severely poor," she said.
"Many of them miss out on the normal childhood activities like sport and even something as basic as having a friend round for tea.
The research also revealed that:
- 70% of children living in severe poverty are most likely to live in a household where no-one works;
- 50% live with a lone parent;
- 27% have parents with health problems or disabilities and 14% are disabled themselves;
- 24% live in large families with more than four children.
PA