Poverty and Social Exclusion

This study was conducted  to improve our understanding of poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland.

It was the first ever large scale study of poverty and social exclusion to be carried out in Northern Ireland.

The project was carried out by a team of researchers from Queen´s University, University of Ulster, Democratic Dialogue and the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network. It is funded by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Department of Finance and Personnel and by the Treasury´s evidence-based policy fund.

The main fieldwork for the survey was undertaken by CSU and ran from 11 October 2002 until the middle of January 2003. 

A random sample of 3,500 households were asked a range of questions about their incomes, household possessions and lifestyles. The information was used to determine the numbers of people living in poverty in Northern Ireland and to compare Northern Ireland´s poverty levels with those in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The results of the survey will be made available in a series of publications. The first report, Bare necessities: Poverty and Social Exclusion in Northern Ireland , was published in October 2003.