The statement by Irish Social Justice group, CORI, that revealed three quarters of a million people in that country (i.e. 17 % of the population) are living in poverty is a wake-up call for other communities with burgeoning economies.

The Isle of Man, with almost twenty years of unprecedented growth, should realise that it also has sections of its community who do not share the prosperity many take for granted.

In January of this year the Isle of Man Finance Minister, Alan Bell MHK, responding to a query in Tynwald about child poverty (see attached links), said that he estimated that in 2006/07 approximately 14 % of children were living in households with income less than 60 per cent of median household income for the Island (one of the accepted measures of poverty). The Minister pointed out he could not provide more specific information because the only data available to Treasury which could be used to respond to this question was derived from a Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), held every ten years.

Given that Bell's figure of 14% for child poverty would be considerably increased if other low income groups are counted, the Isle of Man may have a similar (if not greater) percentage figure of people in poverty - using the 60 per cent of median household income benchmark.

One of the difficulties is establishing an accurate picture and we called, in February of this year, for accurate income and expenditure data to be compiled.

Mann, on the basis of child poverty figures already admitted by the Manx Treasury does (like Ireland) have a double digit proportion of its population who fall below accepted benchmarks for poverty. That in itself is a shameful indictment of the Manx governments avowed intention, stated two decades ago, to create a 'Caring and Prosperous Society'.

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

30/03/08