Assembly Committee Labels Child Poverty Strategy Handling a ‘Catalogue of Failures’

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Assembly has declared that the Department for Communities’ management of the Child Poverty Strategy constitutes a “catalogue of failures,” asserting that children and families were not central to its approach. This critical report, addressing the “shortcomings,” has been released and includes 11 proposals aimed at addressing child poverty. The strategy originated in the office of the First and Deputy First Ministers before being transferred to the DfC. It was active from 2016 until 2022, and following its termination, no comparable initiative has been established. The PAC’s report indicated that throughout its execution, the strategy lacked adequate targeting and funding, and featured “unacceptably poor” accountability mechanisms. The Committee noted that the child poverty rate increased from a steady 20% to 24% during the 2022-23 period, and suggested that the DFC “appeared to be too far removed” from the children and families affected by poverty. On Thursday, Daniel McCrossan, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, stated on the Good Morning Ulster programme: “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 characterized the PAC’s evidence sessions as “absolutely shocking,” and asserted that the department was “just not at the races on this issue whatsoever.” He added, “Ministers and the executive have said this is important for them, but we have seen no action really.” He urged the DfC to verify that a new anti-poverty plan would be submitted to the Executive by the close of March. The Public Accounts Committee’s report took into account the Northern Ireland Audit Office’s (NIAO) report on child poverty, which had been released in March. Northern Ireland experienced a notable rise in the number of children living in poverty during 2022. Approximately 109,000 children, or 24%, were identified as living in relative poverty, an increase from 19% in 2021. Sheena McMullen of Action for Children NI informed the programme that “we pay for poverty so much already in so many ways”. She deemed the justification of “funding constraints” for failing to implement a child poverty strategy as indefensible. “The audit office found that child poverty is costing us £1bn per year,” she said. “Poverty is the root of so many of our policy conundrums leading to demands on health services, education services , justice and social care settings.” Ms McMullen commented that the report has “come at a good time” and that the executive office now “needs to show us that they are taking this issue seriously”. A spokesperson for the Department for Communities stated: “The Department welcomes the PAC’s interest in this important issue and will consider the Committee’s recommendations fully.” The government employs two primary methods for measuring low income. Income is defined as the funds available to a household for spending once housing expenses have been deducted. Absolute poverty quantifies the number of individuals unable to afford a predetermined standard of living in the current year. The Department for Work and Pensions presently bases its definition on the living standard achievable with an average income in the year concluding March 2011. Should an individual’s income fall 40% below this benchmark, after accounting for subsequent price increases, they are categorized as living in absolute poverty. Relative poverty refers to the count of individuals whose income is 40% less than the current average income. An individual is deemed to be in relative poverty if residing in a household with an income less than 60% of the standard UK income. This metric assesses whether households with the lowest incomes are maintaining parity with the overall income growth across the population.