NI Executive urged to ‘take poverty seriously’

The report by the PAC said that during its implementation the strategy was not sufficiently targeted nor funded and had “unacceptably poor” arrangements for accountability.

The PAC said that the rate of child poverty grew from a consistent 20% to 24% in 2022-23 and that the DFC “appeared to be too far removed” from those children and families experiencing poverty.

Speaking to the Good Morning Ulster programme on Thursday, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Daniel McCrossan, said: “Make no mistake about it, we will be calling those responsible for implementing this strategy back before our committee again to ensure that the recommendations have been carried forward.”

McCrossan described the evidence sessions held by the PAC as “absolutely shocking”, and said the department was “just not at the races on this issue whatsoever”.

“Ministers and the executive have said this is important for them, but we have seen no action really,” he added.

He called for the DfC to confirm that a new anti-poverty strategy will be presented to the Executive by the end of March.

In its report, the Public Accounts Committee considered the Northern Ireland Audit Office’s (NIAO) report on child poverty which was published in March.