10 April 2025

SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty has said it comes as no surprise that the North has the highest levels of deprivation.

Research from Queen’s University found that the level of deprivation across areas in the North stood at 25%.

It also found that the Derry and Strabane and Belfast council areas had more deprived areas than anywhere else in the North or Britain.

Councillor Paul Doherty said:

“I wish I could say these figures were a surprise, but unfortunately I am confronted with the reality of poverty and deprivation every single day. From parents who are struggling to put food on the table for themselves and their kids, those who cannot afford the ridiculous costs of school uniforms or those living in pain who cannot access the healthcare they need – this is reality for far too many people in west Belfast and across the North.

“It’s basic issues that push people into poverty and lead to areas becoming deprived. A lack of investment in public services, jobs and housing in places like west Belfast has directly contributed to many of the underlying problems including poor mental health and addiction which are blighting far too many lives. We’ve been raising these issues constantly over many years, but it seems that all we ever get in return is warm words.

“If it wasn’t for the efforts of community groups who step up and provide services where the Executive has failed then I dread to think where we would be. We still don’t even have an anti-poverty strategy in place and until the Executive begins to take this matter seriously we won’t make any progress tackling the root causes of deprivation. With all the pressures facing people at the moment and the prospect of cuts to welfare support looming, I fear things will only get even worse.”