Question Time: Social Development Tuesday 27 May 2014
Minister for
Finance and Personnel, Simon Hamilton, answered questions on the behalf of the
unwell Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, during today’s
Question Time.
Mr Hamilton
provided an update on the housing
repossession taskforce, a group established by the Social Development
Minister to investigate the issue of negative equity and repossessions in
Northern Ireland. The first phase of the process is to produce an initial
research report focussing on the nature and extent of the possessions issue in
Northern Ireland – this should be completed by the end of June 2014 and will
then inform the second phase of developing evidence-based recommendations for
potential mitigating actions by the end of 2014. Members expressed concern
about low-income families being forced to buy properties in the rented sector
and potentially spiralling into debt. Mr Hamilton moved to ease concerns by
pointing to the Social Development Minister’s commitment to building more
social and affordable homes and schemes such as co-ownership housing, as well
as the availability of social housing, to show that there are different options
open to people depending on their circumstances.
Mr Hamilton
then provided the House with an update on the Building
Successful Communities pilot schemes, a Departmental initiative aimed at
regenerating communities beginning with six pilot areas in Belfast and
Ballymena. The scheme aims to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to
access good housing at a reasonable cost and tackle problems of blight, vacant housing stock, antisocial
behaviour, high incidences of reported crime and economic inactivity. Currently
three of the pilot areas have established their regeneration forum and will
meet soon to identify their area’s specific physical, social, environmental and
economic needs, with a view to developing a plan to address those issues.
The Minister
also answered questions on housing needs in north Belfast and the alleged
gerrymandering of housing allocations and resources in north Belfast. During
topical questions he also answered Members’ queries on topics such as work
capability assessment, welfare reform, neighbourhood renewal schemes and the new
responsibilities of the super-councils.
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