The announcement, made by Finance Minister Sammy Wilson MLA in the assembly today, will allow Minister Ritchie to address a range of pressures in her housing budget.
Margaret Ritchie said: “The £20million for housing is a boost both for tenants and for the local construction sector. As well as ensuring that tenants receive much needed maintenance to their homes, local maintenance contractors will be able to sustain around 800 jobs in the construction sector.
“I am grateful to my Ministerial colleagues for recognising the validity of the case for more investment in housing as put forward last month by Professor Mike Smith of the University of Ulster.
“However, while pleased that the Finance Minister is listening, I need to sound a note of caution: the £20million can only address part of what is a £100million shortfall in the Housing Budget due to the fall in receipts from Housing Executive house sales. In particular, we have a huge shortfall in funding for house renovation grants and this needs to be addressed.
We will continue to press for housing to be put on a firm financial footing.
Notes to Editors:
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