Ritchie welcomes over a quarter of a billion pounds extra for social housing

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA, today welcomed the extra quarter of a billion pounds being made available for social housing.

The final budget statement highlights that the Minister has secured an additional £205million for the next three years for social housing. This comes on top of an extra £70million secured in the current year.

The Minister is now confident that she can meet all her main housing priorities over the next three years.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This is a much better budget than what was originally proposed; better for those on waiting lists, better for those who are homeless, better for those who want to reach the first rung on the housing ladder. I would like to thank the Finance Minister and my Executive colleagues for listening carefully to the case I made and recognising that social housing was the clear priority for additional investment.

“I have made no secret of the fact that what was being offered in the original draft budget was not enough. While it is pleasing that my efforts have yielded significantly more public funding I also recognise the need for innovative ways of raising even further capital for social and affordable housing. I believe it is possible to get a much greater contribution from the private sector.”

The Minister then went on to pay tribute to the public and voluntary housing associations.

She said: “The many players in the housing sector made a significant contribution during the consultation process. Their detailed analysis played a vital part and strengthened my resolve to secure this massive increase in funds. I assure them, as I assure everyone in Northern Ireland seeking a home, that I will work tirelessly in pursuit of their interests.

Margaret Ritchie concluded: “I also have to ask those politicians who have criticised me in the last two months for seeking additional funding - was an extra quarter of a billion pounds not worth raising my voice for?

“I believe I now have the financial underpinning to deliver and enhance social and affordable housing programmes over the next three years. When I took up office in May we were on course to achieve six hundred housing starts. We are now likely to achieve up to fifteen hundred starts this year and deliver in excess of two thousand social and affordable houses in each of the next three years. Now I have certainty in my budget I can finalise my plans for housing. I will announce details of these plans, including an ambitious new housing agenda, next month.”

Notes to Editors:

For further information, please contact Philip Maguire, Principal Information Officer, DSD on 028 9082 9490, mobile 07788 108 657.