The North Antrim MLA said: “It’s heart-breaking that any child in Northern Ireland is forced to rely on food banks. These numbers show a 90 per cent increase since 2019 and clearly indicate that we’re not doing enough to support the most vulnerable in our society. We cannot ignore this any longer, action is needed now to address this crisis.

“The evidence further shows that many people living in NI are being forced to turn to food banks because incomes from work and social security payments are simply not enough to cover essentials such as food, bills, and toiletries. This is why urgent reform of our social security system is non-negotiable.

“To effectively tackle child hunger and poverty, we need a comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy, along with strengthened Welfare Mitigations, and improvements to Universal Credit. 

“The Alliance Party’s ‘No Time to Wait’ paper offers practical, immediate solutions to address the damaging five-week wait for Universal Credit. These changes, alongside welfare reforms, could transform the lives of families and children currently trapped in poverty. Families in Northern Ireland cannot afford to wait any longer. 

“It is a national scandal that Northern Ireland’s children are facing worse levels of hardship than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK. Children here are disproportionately affected by poverty, reflecting the systemic failings in our policies to protect them. Hunger should never be a childhood experience, no matter where you live.”