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Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland 2012

The report, monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland 2012, highlights how poverty, work, benefits and education have changed in Northern Ireland since 2009.

Highlights from the report also included the following;

• One in five people (22%) in Northern Ireland are living in poverty.
• Pensioner poverty in Northern Ireland has risen by 27%.
• Between 2009 and 2011, 34% of working-age adults in Northern Ireland were not in paid work. This is higher than the Great Britain average but similar to Wales.
• Children on free school meals are less likely to attain expected levels of educational qualifications.
• In 2011, 38% of working-age women were workless compared with 28% of working-age men. This gap is closing and the gap in full-time hourly pay rates between women and men has closed.

To access the report, please click here.

The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) report 2010 has been launched today.

Key findings include:

• Decrease from 2006 in reports of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use. No significant differences across social class groups in smoking or drug use but those from lower social classes were more likely to report being ‘really drunk’
• Food and dietary behaviour has improved or remained stable since 2006. Girls, younger children and those from higher social classes are more likely to report regular fruit and vegetable consumption 
• Little change in reported frequency of exercise, physical activity and inactivity in HBSC 2010. Boys, younger children and those from middle social classes are more likely to be active. 
• Decrease in the number of children who report being injured and needing medical attention once or more in the last 12 months. Boys and older children are more likely to report ever being injured with no social class differences noted. 
• Rates of bullying have remained unchanged. Boys and younger children are most likely to report having been bullied while boys and older children were more likely to report bullying others. No social class differences were noted. 
• Sexual behaviour amongst 15-17 year olds was included for the first time in 2010. Boys and those from lower social class groups are more likely to report ever having sex. To read the full report, please click here

To read the full report, please click here

60% more women than men dying from stroke in Ireland

The Irish Heart Foundation have highlighted latest 2010 CSO figures that 1,258 women died from stroke during 2010 out of a total of 2,053 stroke fatalities nationwide.

In response to the figures, the Irish Heart Foundation Medical Director, Dr. Angie Brown said that every person should make sure they know the symptoms of the disease – and know to call 999 immediately when they spot them.

Social Justice Ireland says 700,000 people are living in poverty in Ireland.

A new report published by Social Justice Ireland claims that one sixth of the population are living in poverty in Ireland. Some 706,000 people, including 200,00 children, are living in poverty in Ireland in an increase of 92,000 in two years, according to a new report published today.

The Shaping Ireland’s Future report by Social Justice Ireland said the Government needs to acknowledge Ireland’s poverty problem and called for an overhaul of social welfare

To read the full report, click here