To ask the Minister for Communities, following the publication of Action for Children’s new report, Paying the Price of Child Poverty, whether he will commit to ensuring that comprehensive cross-departmental measures to tackle child poverty are embedded in an anti-poverty strategy.

My officials are aware of Action for Children’s report and will consider its findings in their work to develop potential actions to tackle poverty and child poverty in particular.

Addressing poverty in all its forms is and has been a key priority for me. I remain committed to delivering long-term, sustainable solutions to poverty for our communities right across Northern Ireland, through the implementation of a robust Anti-Poverty Strategy.

The Anti-Poverty Strategy will aim to address poverty and the impacts of socio-economic disadvantage and set out the NI Executive’s commitment to a joined up, long term approach to addressing poverty. In tackling child poverty we will focus on lifting families out of poverty and ensuring our young people have the best possible start in life irrespective of their socio-economic status.

Final decisions on the contents of the Anti-Poverty Strategy will be subject to Executive agreement and public consultation prior to its final publication.