Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

No Social Housing for Armagh City until 2012 - Boylan

Published: 15 December, 2008

Cathal Boylan, MLA for Newry and Armagh, has expressed his frustration that plans for Social Housing in the Armagh City area will not be starting until 2012 at the earliest. This came to light after the Sinn Féin representative asked a number of questions on the issue from the Minister of Social Development, Margaret Ritchie.

'I first raised this issue with the Minister in October 2007 after I and colleague Councillor Cathy Rafferty met with the NIHE Southern Division management team to discuss growing concerns on the social housing crisis. At that time we were told of a plan to build 32 houses at Mullacreevie and 12 units for the elderly at Ballynahonemore as well as the fact that NIHE was seeking a suitable site to build 16 single person units in Armagh.'

'I have asked the Minister for an update on these proposals and while it seems that the number of proposed units have increased to 44 in Mullacreevie and 24 in Ballynahonemore, it seems little has been done to enable a start to be made on the projects. I am also disappointed that as yet no suitable location has been identified for the 16 single person units.'

The Assembly member continued;

'I asked the Minister if it was possible to bring the projects forward in her Departments work schedule in order to help assist in alleviating the difficulties in the local construction industry, but she replied that this was not possible due to a number of issues including zoning, open space provision and planning permission.'

'The Minister was able to inform me that the Fold Housing Association has been nominated to develop Phase 1 of the scheme at Mullacreevie for 22 units which is hoped to begin in 2012 / 2013, while Phase 2 for a further 22 units has not yet been allocated to a Housing Association and would not be expected to start until 2013 / 2014. While I asked if it could be assured that local labour would be used in the construction of these houses, the Minister was unable to do so stating that the source of labour will be a matter for the contractor.'

The Sinn Féin representative concluded;

'It seems another year has been wasted in trying to get these projects off the ground, meanwhile the crisis in social housing continues to grow in the Armagh City area and local construction businesses and workers are desperate for schemes such as this to be implemented to stay afloat and stay in work. Meanwhile the Minister continues to buy 'off the shelf' housing to bail out developers which have been stung in the recent downturn in the private housing market. I am sure many people will be disappointed to find out that this scheme is at least three years away and that there is no inclination by Margaret Ritchie to bring it forward to assist those who need homes and employment now.'