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

Families in Armagh forced to live in unbearable housing conditions - action needed now - Sinn Féin

Published: 15 June, 2009

Armagh Sinn Féin Councillor Mary Doyle has expressed her frustration at the current situation regarding the Housing Executive's policy on the distribution of housing maintenance grants. Cllr Doyle said that the current policy negatively impacts on those in need, seeking assistance for the refurbishment or renovation of their homes.

Councillor Doyle was speaking after visiting the home of a family whose home was in dire need of refurbishment.

Cllr Doyle said,

"I and other Sinn Féin representatives have recently been contacted by a number of constituents who are concerned by the cuts in the Housing Executive's maintenance budget. These people are being told that there is no money available in the grants system to carry out vital repairs to their homes.

"I have recently visited the home of a lady who had raised concerns with me. I was shocked by the condition of her home. Almost every room in the house was destroyed by damp. The lady and her family are asthmatic and the current state of their home is having further negative implications for their health.

"No one is this day and age should be forced to live in such conditions.

"The cuts in the Housing Executive's maintenance budget are impacting on the vulnerable in our society as many of the people being affected have serious illnesses and disabilities.

"The Minister for Social Development has chosen to deprive this family and many others across the North of the support that they desperately need - support which would dramatically improve the quality of life for many.

"It is the Minister's responsibility to promote a positive social environment, not to marginalise the most susceptible in society.

"The Minister has constantly blamed others for the situation she has put people in by claiming that her allocated budget is not sufficient to deal with such problems. The reality is that Margaret Ritchie handed back £30million to the executive that she could not spend. She has consistently bailed out wealthy contractors by buying off the shelf housing. The problem is not the Department's budget; the problem is how the budget is being managed.

"I am calling on the Minister to act now - this situation cannot continue.

"We in Sinn Féin will continue to lobby the Housing Executive and DSD to put the needs of the most vulnerable to the fore. Recently our assembly members called on the Minister to use the £110 million which has became available within her budget to alleviate this crisis. The money which has been made available as the Royal Exchange project has been stalled could be used to cover the serious shortfall in the provision of cyclical maintenance, egan contracts and other grants which have been suspended or seriously underfunded in this year's Housing budget.

"There is now an opportunity for the minister to use the money that has now become available form the delay in the Royal Exchange project to restart the housing maintenance programme. It is crucial that the minister moves immediately in order to put this resource to best effect and ensure that the shortfall in this years housing maintenance budget is covered.

"If this is not done immediately up to 1000 people could lose their jobs in the construction industry and many people waiting on kitchen replacement and other health and safety works could suffer because of inaction."