Sinn Fein has claimed a new survey which shows that the average weekly income of Protestants in the North is 15 per cent higher than that of Catholics is evidence of discrimination in employment.
Catholics earn almost £200 less every month, according to the study by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. A Catholic family's average weekly income is £306, compared to £351 for a Protestant family.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Ms Mary Nelis said: "These statistics are part of the legacy of discrimination in employment practices which has impacted in a very negative sense on the quality of life for Catholic people.
"As we approach a new millennium, it is incumbent on all advocates of fair play to ensure that every measure necessary is applied to eradicate this discriminatory trend in favour of full equality of opportunity for all."
The survey shows that a greater proportion of the income of Protestant families comes from employment. More Catholics depend on social welfare payments. Two-thirds of Protestants' income is made up of wages compared to 57 per cent of Catholic families, and 28 per cent of Catholics' average weekly income is made up of social security, compared to 18 per cent of Protestants. The survey for 1997/1998 showed that Catholic families spent an average of £287.60 a week while Protestants spent £293.90. Catholics also spend a smaller proportion of their income on housing every week than Protestants - 9 per cent compared to 11 per cent.
Protestants have higher motoring expenses - 15 per cent of their income, compared to 13 per cent for Catholics. Average weekly incomes are also higher in the eastern part of Northern Ireland, excluding Belfast. Families living there earn almost £90 more than those living in Belfast or west of the River Bann.
The study shows that only two regions of Britain - the northeast of England and Scotland - have lower average weekly household expenditure than Northern Ireland. Households in the North on average spend more on food, fuel, and tobacco than those in Britain.
The average weekly expenditure on cigarettes is £8.50, compared to the British average of £6.30.