More than 32,000 children are living in severe poverty in Northern Ireland, according to new figures revealed by the charity Save the Children today.
This 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 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."
Ms Sheri Chamberlain, NI programme director of Save the Children said she welcomed the fact that the Government and the devolved administration have both shown a willingness to tackle the issue of child poverty.
The research also claimed that:
- 70 percent of children living in severe poverty are most likely to live in a household where no one works;
- 50 percent live with a lone parent;
- 27 percent have parents with health problems or disabilities and 14 percent are disabled themselves.
PA