The law centre, supported by The PILS Project, was granted leave in the High Court this morning to bring the legal challenge against the Northern Ireland Office, Department of Finance and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

The CLC previously accused the Northern Ireland secretary of failing in his responsibility to apply the principle of equality, including assessing whether the cumulative impact of the budget cuts is disproportionately affecting disadvantaged children, including disabled children.

Speaking last week, Fergal McFerran, policy and public affairs manager at the Children’s Law Centre, said: “The impact of the Secretary of State’s punishment budget was plain for everyone to see.

“The Children’s Law Centre, along with a wide range of other voices, consistently warned about the impact it would have on children and young people, particularly those who are most disadvantaged.

“Ourselves, the wider voluntary and community sector and even the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child repeatedly called on the Secretary of State to rethink the 2023/24 budget and protect children from harm. Unfortunately, those concerns were ignored and we were left with no option but to take legal action.

“We are taking this challenge to ensure children and young people are protected from harm when budget decisions are being made. We must ensure the legal process for doing that is followed, regardless of who sets the budget.

“We are now facing the prospect of another grim budget setting process. We want to be as clear as possible — a repeat of the so called punishment budget must never happen again.”