Demand for proper anti-poverty strategy

Press release for immediate use: 23 August 2005

Demand for proper anti-poverty strategy

NICVA has accused the government of seriously misrepresenting criticism of its proposed anti-poverty strategy, which is designed to replace targeting social need (TSN).

It is urging organisations to tell the Minister responsible, Lord Rooker, that 'enough is enough' and that it is time to get down to the serious task of helping people in need.

"This time last year NICVA, supported by 180 charities, severely criticised the proposed policy and claimed it would do nothing to help people actually suffering from poverty," said chief executive, Seamus Mc Aleavey.

"We made detailed proposals to improve the plan so that it could tackle major issues like 150,000 children living in poverty, working class people suffering ill-health and early deaths, 530,000 people economically inactive and low-income families struggling to survive.

"When the revised strategy was released quietly this summer we were astounded to discover that these considered comments by organisations representing every part of the voluntary and community sector were ignored. The plan is weak and confused and lacks decisive actions or targets as a result.

"It is clear that government has heard nothing and learned nothing even though it has wasted three and a half years working on this policy."

In the latest document, government claims there was general agreement with the 'broad architecture' of the strategy. It ignored the criticisms and did not even state that 180 groups opposed the proposals.

"The status quo is not working for people suffering poverty in Northern Ireland. Government needs to take urgent action and it can no longer ignore the huge body of opinion against its proposals," Mr Mc Aleavey added.

NICVA wants to meet Lord Rooker to put its concerns to him personally. It is also running the 'Enough is Enough' campaign on the new Community NI portal: www.communityni.org.

For more information contact Paul Mc Gill at NICVA 028 9087 7777 or 0772 1746 805 (m).