COMMITTEE TRAVELS TO DUNGANNON TO TAKE EVIDENCE ON CHILD POVERTY

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will hold its next public meeting at 2.00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, 24 Northland Road, Dungannon, on Wednesday 13 February.
It will hear evidence from key stakeholders, to further inform the Committee Inquiry on Child Poverty and will also meet the Mayor, Council Members and local organisations involved in the alleviation of child poverty.

The Chairperson, Mr Danny Kennedy MLA said:

“The Committee has been consulting widely with stakeholders in the field to inform its inquiry into child poverty and welcomes the opportunity to hold a public evidence session in Dungannon.”

The Deputy Chairperson Mrs. Naomi Long MLA added;

“The level of child poverty in Northern Ireland must be a major concern for us all. The Committee Inquiry will consider what actions might be taken to tackle child poverty with particular focus on those that would be deliverable by the devolved administration.”

Notes for Editors:

1. Giving evidence on tacking child poverty will be representatives of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, Craigavon Borough Council, Western Investing for Health Partnership, Western Area Health Action Zone, Southern Area Childcare Partnership and Western Area Childcare Partnership in respect of its inquiry into Child Poverty.

2. The Committee is examining the current strategic approach to tackling child poverty in Northern Ireland. An interim report was published by the Committee on 19 December 2007 to inform the consultation process on the draft Programme for Government 2008-11 and the draft Budget and may be viewed at Interim Report on the Committee's Inquiry into Child Poverty in Northern Ireland.

3. The report focuses on identifying the size of the child poverty problem in Northern Ireland and compares the position here with other regions of the UK, Ireland and Europe.

4. The Child Poverty Inquiry will be completed in spring 2008.

5. The Committee for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister is one of the statutory committees established by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 9 May 2007

6 The role of the Committee as set out in Standing Orders for the Northern Ireland Assembly is “to advise and assist the First Minister and the deputy First Minister in the formulation of policy with respect to matters within their responsibilities as Ministers jointly in charge of the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.”

7. Committee Membership: -

Danny Kennedy, Chairperson
Naomi Long, Deputy Chairperson
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliott
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
Jim Wells

Media enquiries should be addressed to

Kieran Dougan
Information Office, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3XX
Tel: 028 9052 1642
Mobile 07825 146794

Website: archive.niassembly.gov.uk