‘Derry & Strabane poverty rates show Stormont Can’t Deliver’ – Caolán Doherty
Recent statistics published by the Department for Communities (DfC) in the Six Counties have highlighted the extreme rates of poverty across the state. Among their findings was that the Derry & Strabane council area had the highest poverty rates of all councils in the north.
Speaking on the issue, Lasair Dhearg Derry activist Caolán Doherty said, “This recent report merely highlights what we already know, that the Six County state and its Stormont administrators have a position of deprivation and disinvestment when it comes to this part of Ireland.”
“Of the more than 400,000 people living in poverty in the Six Counties, more than a quarter of them live in the Derry & Strabane council area, a damning indictment on an administration that promised us new beginnings decades ago only to leave us all behind.”
Caolán said, “For too long now, our communities have had to continually fight for decent levels of investment and support, and they are not getting it. Setting targets for the year 2030 is a slap in the face for those suffering the acute levels of poverty in the here and the now; the result of which is increased levels of mental health issues and subsequent suicides. Our communities are sick and tired of pulling people off of bridges, only to send them back to a life of deprivation and denied support.”
“These types of reports have been published for many years now. They know what the issues are but are doing nothing about it. Stormont can’t deliver. It has failed us.”
“There is only one path to resolve these issues once and for all, and that is to fight for a 32 County Socialist Republic, free from those with their own selfish interests and party political objectives.”
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