Commenting following the announcement of the Programme for Government, Investment Strategy and Draft Budget, the Minister said: “The Executive has made a good start in getting down to tackle the many difficulties facing people in Northern Ireland. My Department will make a significant contribution to the Executive’s overall aim of working towards a peaceful, fair and prosperous society.
“I welcome the commitment in the Programme for Government to providing decent affordable housing although the draft Budget settlement will present me with significant challenges in improving the provision of social and affordable housing and delivering social security benefits.
“My Department received one of the smallest increases in the Draft Budget and I will now have to work very hard along with my officials, to manage within the resources which will be available to us. One of the Executive’s key priorities is to grow a dynamic innovative economy and improve skills levels and while I expect my Department to make a significant contribution to this aim, I acknowledge that the balance of resources should go to Departments such as DETI and DEL.”
Turning to the Investment Strategy, the Minister said that she was disappointed that more recognition had not been give to social housing. “It was difficult for me to sign up to a document which did not match my aspirations and ambitions to increasing the number of social houses.
“I have made social and affordable housing my top priority and I welcome the commitment from the Executive and all political parties to this. In his report, Sir John Semple suggested that 2,000 new house starts would be required every year. I share this aspiration but at present, the draft Investment Strategy does not allocate sufficient funds to match it.
“I am looking urgently at how this situation can be improved and additional funds found. I hope to receive further assurances that receipts from land sales can be retained by my Department and used to build more houses. My Executive colleagues have also agreed that social housing should be made a top priority for funds whenever assets such as land holdings are released by other government departments.
“The Investment Strategy published today is a draft and I expect that housing will do better in the final document.”
Turning to the regeneration of Belfast and other towns and cities, the Minister said that the proposed budget for urban regeneration would allow a number of exciting and ambitious schemes to progress in Belfast, Derry and other towns in Northern Ireland.
“My aim and the aim of my Department is to tackle disadvantage and build communities. While I accept that I have not received all that I asked for and that we will have to tighten our belt and make efficiencies, there are in place the funds and the plans to make progress on an exciting programme of regeneration that will make a real difference to people across Northern Ireland.”
Notes to Editors:
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