MLA Calls For 'Honest' Social Housing Review

Sinn Fein has called on the Executive to provide was it calls an "honest assessment" of plans for new social housing provisions in the province.

Assemblyman Fra McCann urged Finance Minister Nigel Dodds to challenge Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie on her department's Programme for Government commitments.

Mr McCann also sought answers on affordable housing stock.

He said: "All indications from the housing market and construction sector show that there is currently a serious shortfall in the provision of social and affordable housing."


He said the Assembly's pledge of reaching Public Service Agreement target of 10,000 social and affordable units by 2013 will "in no way be met".

"Schemes such as kitchen refurbishments, essential maintenance and window replacements have born the brunt of poor budgetary management in order to buy up housing stock to try and meet these targets," said Mr McCann.

"This is not the strategy that will create new housing developments and increase housing numbers, which is a serious concern given that there are 40,000 people on the waiting list and 20,000 under housing stress."

He claimed this "short sighted" approached is stocking up problems.

(PR/JM)