Debate contribution: Child Poverty: North Belfast

Debate contribution by Mr Gerry Kelly on 24 September 2024.

MLA

Mr Gerry Kelly

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

24 September 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Child Poverty: North Belfast

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4645063

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I also thank Nuala for bringing this important issue to our attention again. The term to use for child poverty in North Belfast is "staggering". The statistic is that 29% of children live in poverty, as reported by the End Child Poverty Coalition on the basis of research from Loughborough University. In the North, over 20% of children, across all the constituencies, experience poverty. Several factors contribute to child poverty, as we know, including high housing costs, which has been mentioned a number of times. There is a shortage of available housing, and there are restrictive policies such as the two-child limit on benefits. That policy alone affects over 45,000 children here, pushing larger families into economic hardship. The growing housing crisis compounds the challenges. There were over 47,000 applicants on the housing waiting list in March this year. The shortage is driving families into unsuitable temporary accommodation such as B&Bs and expensive private rentals. That places financial strain on families, deepening their poverty and widening social inequalities. The lack of stable housing also impacts mental health, particularly for children who face the anxiety and stress of frequent relocations and overcrowded living conditions. Those circumstances not only hinder children's access to education but prevent access to essential healthcare services, perpetuating a vicious cycle of poverty and poor social outcomes. Secure housing is foundational to improving living standards and combating poverty. For children, poverty leads to a higher prevalence of chronic conditions such as asthma, obesity and malnutrition. Studies consistently show that children who live in poverty are more likely to face developmental delays and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Poor housing conditions such as dampness and mould further worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma. The intersection of poverty, housing insecurity and chronic illness in North Belfast underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. Addressing those interconnected issues must be a priority for various Departments, as a number of Members have said, to ensure that vulnerable families have the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty, improve their health and secure a brighter future. Key to that is the anti-poverty strategy, and I take the opportunity to urge the Minister for Communities, as others have done — his is the lead Department — to bring the strategy forward as a matter of urgency and to ensure that it is not only effective but sustainable. That will require buy-in from all Ministers in a joined-up approach to policy development and, importantly, in resources. The Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, is moving to give our young people the skills, training and opportunities to reach their full potential. That can be achieved by addressing long-standing regional imbalances, investing in our communities and ensuring that employment opportunities pay a real living wage to help raise living standards. Each of those issues is covered in Conor Murphy's economic vision. Since he took office, it is clear that delivering positive change for workers and families is a priority for the Minister. The anti-poverty strategy is due to be published by the Communities Minister, who must ensure that it, too, contains commitments. The anti-poverty strategy must tackle the widening gap between people's incomes and the cost of living, which has been exacerbated not only by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis but by years of cuts and the gutting of our public services by the British Government. Policies such as the five-week wait for universal credit, which was mentioned by Nuala, and the two-child limit on benefits have undoubtedly contributed to the rise in child poverty, with over 45,000 children across the North of Ireland directly impacted. It is imperative that we challenge those harmful policies, as the British Government's cuts to social support and underfunding through the block grant formula are deepening poverty.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Finance Minister are pushing the British Government to provide increased resources for the Executive to be able to properly fund our public services.

Ensuring that people have access to advice is essential, particularly during transitional periods and when managing debt. I pay tribute to the incredible work done in my constituency by organisations such as the Ardoyne Association, the Wolfhill Centre and Tar Isteach. A number of other organisations were mentioned, so forgive me for not having the full list. They all do very hard work and very important work. I urge the Minister to ensure that the anti-poverty strategy is bold and forward-thinking. While lifting individuals and families above the poverty line is an essential step, it is equally important to focus on fostering economic growth and creating opportunities that help to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

774 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:06 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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