"That more than 1 in 5 people in Northern Ireland reported that their household had run out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more in the last year should shock and startle everyone. The very basics of life are becoming increasingly unaffordable for people across our society and it requires a serious response from the Minister.

"The statistics are also clear that households with children, those with disabilities and with caring responsibilities are at even greater risk of not being able to afford food, which is completely unacceptable.

"The levels of poverty across our community are shockingly high and continue to rise. This must be a wakeup call to the Minister who has consistently under delivered when it comes to delivering an effective Anti-Poverty Strategy.

“I have repeatedly urged the Minister to listen to people experiencing poverty and to the organisations working with them. He now needs to bring forward an ambitious Anti-Poverty Strategy backed by a funded action plan, with clear deadlines and measurable targets. Families need to know what will change and when they can expect help."