Central Anti-Poverty

People are considered to be living in poverty if their income and resources are so inadequate as to prevent them from enjoying a standard of living, which would be regarded as acceptable by society generally.

Around 341,000 people live in relative income poverty in Northern Ireland. Over 100,000 of these are children. The causes of poverty are many and varied.

There are many ways in which government can tackle the causes of poverty, one of the most effective is to ensure that, where possible, departmental programmes are targeted towards those in greatest need.

The role of the Central Anti-Poverty Unit in OFMDFM is to set overall priorities and drive and co-ordinate action in this area.

This Child Poverty Strategy sets out the actions proposed by the Executive to address the issue of Child Poverty here. It is laid before the Assembly in fulfilment of our obligations under the Child Poverty Act 2010.

OFMDFM is currently developing a delivery plan detailing those key initiatives and signature projects to progress the strategic priorities identified in the strategy.

Visit the Child Poverty page at the link below.

Following Executive agreement on the establishment of an £80million Social Investment Fund, the following pre discussion paper outlines the high level strategic concept, objectives and overall methodology of the Fund.