City Hall Forum To Tackle Belfast Poverty

Tackling the issue of poverty has been the subject of a forum held today at Belfast City Hall.

Hosted by Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, the Civic Forum on poverty has been considering how the organisations working to tackle poverty can better meet the growing challenges across the city.

The Lord Mayor said: "It is important to bring together representatives from government, the churches, businesses, political parties, and of course our city’s strong community and voluntary sectors. They are the people with the expertise and experience of the impact of poverty.

"Belfast City Council has made practical commitments to addressing poverty. Through our Investment Programme, and through the planned investment in our leisure estate, we are pumping over £250 million in the city over the next few years. In making this investment we have thought long and hard about how we can maximise its impact for our citizens.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA, said: "The Public Health Agency works within the community and with partner organisations to address issues surrounding poverty and improve the factors that influence good health and wellbeing.

"It is important to work together and focus efforts on challenging the avoidable and unjust differences in health as well as preventing ill-health. We need to build on the excellent work that has already taken place and continue to work across all sectors to improve the conditions and environment for those in our society who are most disadvantaged."

(IT/MH)