The amount of funding available for public housing in NI was discussed this week as the NI Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood met with housing, construction and charity representatives to discuss the draft housing budget.
The main focus was the fact that a 30% reduction in the housing budget has to be made over the next four years, which will lead to a significant reduction in the number of new builds.
He heard how the budget, if not improved, would create further hardship for the construction industry and hit jobs as he met with representatives from the Construction Employers Federation, Housing Rights Service, Simon Community, Co Ownership and National House Building Council in the Chartered Institute of Housing in Belfast.
Speaking after the meeting Minister Attwood said: "There is no disguising the fact this is not a good budget for the future of social housing.
"Even in this financial climate I have managed to protect the most vulnerable in our society, ring fencing resources to tackle fuel poverty and our Supporting People Programme to help independent living," he said, noting that the new build programme has in effect been cut by almost £300m.
"Over the next four years and if this is not reversed, much of the excellent work we have done in recent years in providing record numbers of new homes will not be matched," he said.
Also commenting, South Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey has commended all of those who took part believed that the proposed Planning bill can be improved on and that it must reflect the needs of local communities.
He said: "Our party was represented by my the MLA Cathal Boylan who is currently the Chairperson of the Assembly's Environment Committee.
"I had asked Cathal to attend the meeting so that he could give those present a run down of the Planning Bill's progress through the Assembly.
"I also believe that it was extremely useful for him to hear the views of residents groups from south Belfast. Indeed, he took on board a number of suggestions which were made by those present at the meeting."
"The Bill has to be shaped to reflect the needs of local communities and it is my firm belief that the proposed Planning Bill, while much better than what existed previously, can be improved upon," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Alex Attwood has also just announced that, on average, the increase in NI Housing Executive rents next year will be less than £2.
The average weekly rent increase for tenants will be 3.75%, well below the 4.8% inflation rate.
This compares with an above inflation rise in England, where rents will go up by a figure, which is 80% more than that being applied now in Northern Ireland, and well above the rate of inflation.
Alex Attwood said: "There is a compelling reason to keep rent increases below the rate of inflation. The cost of living, the rate of inflation, rise in commodity and oil prices and all the other prevailing economic conditions means that keeping rent increases lower is essential.
"A key priority for me is protecting the most vulnerable in society. Keeping rent increases well below the rate of inflation will help do that, especially in tough economic times, where every penny counts for households," he said, noting that close to 80% of Housing Executive tenants have their rent paid in full or in part by Housing Benefit.
"For those who do pay their rent, this decision should help families and individuals in the future."
(BMcC/GK)
Construction News
07/02/2011
Public Housing Cuts 'Will Hit Builders'

19/02/2025
Work is set to commence on a new £671m Northern Ireland children's hospital 'in a matter of days', the NI Executive has announced.
With a five-year construction timetable, the 10-floor state-of-the-art facility located within Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital site is projected to be opened by Belf

19/02/2025
County Tipperary-based Glas Civil Engineering has commenced works on a major active travel project in County Kildare.
The project includes a comprehensive upgrade of Mill Street, Maynooth, spanning from the Leinster Street /Main Street junction to the Kilcock Road / Moyglare Road junction.
The en

19/02/2025
Northern Ireland construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a significant contract by Surrey County Council to deliver essential improvements to the A320 north of Woking highway.
This is a key infrastructure project funded through Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The scheme, designed t

19/02/2025
A £1.1m project to provide new and improved facilities at a County Armagh primary school has been completed.
Education Minister Paul Givan officially opened the upgraded Foley Primary School, which saw additions of a multi-purpose sports hall, two mobile classrooms, new school central heating syste

19/02/2025
Ward and Burke Construction Ltd has commenced works on behalf of Uisce Éireann to replace ageing and damaged watermains in Snave, County Cork.
Over 800 metres of old watermains, which are prone to frequent bursts and leakage, will be replaced and upgraded with new modern pipes. Once completed, whic

19/02/2025
Works to repair a historic clock in County Down have successfully been completed.
The refurbishment of Dan Rice Hall's clock tower in Drumaness was made viable following an investment of £15,000 by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, with funds going towards new clock faces, back light feature

19/02/2025
Representatives from Galway City Council and Galway's Westend business association met this week to explore current and future projects for their area.
Topics covered during these discussions included potential improvements at Father Burke Park, the current summer pedestrianisation, public realm im

19/02/2025
The deadline for applications to NI Water's award-winning Entry Level Academy has been extended.
Submissions for the 23 highly sought after apprenticeship, higher level apprenticeship and graduate jobs will now close on Monday, February 24, at 10am.
NI Water's Entry Level Co-ordinator, Stacey Wats

19/02/2025
Public opinion is being sought for the development of an exciting project in County Waterford.
The Thomas Street Creative Project is an initiative to inform and shape the local community and the cultural direction of Thomas Street in the heart of Waterford’s Cultural Quarter (WCQ).
With the public

19/02/2025
A road closure is set to commence next week to facilitate essential drainage works in advance of a road reconstruction project at the L5036 in County Wicklow.
Beginning Monday, February 24, the L5036-Ballinastoe Road will close for approximately 2 weeks. A diversion route will be in place through t