Michelle Gildernew
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Does the Member agree with me that, while the situation in the tower blocks is dire, many homes in rural areas are solid wall with no cavity wall insulation — indeed, no insulation at all — and that something needs to be done to rectify that, especially given that COPD, asthma and other respiratory conditions can result from it?”
“The Committee noted that the most substantive amendments are made to provisions in the Social Security Administration Act 1992, and those relate to the uprating process, whereby income-related benefits are adjusted automatically when another income-related benefit is uprated — in this case, the state pension.”
“The Committee for Communities considered the SL1 relating to the proposed order at its meeting on 15 September 2016 and was content with the proposals. Subsequently, the proposed order was brought before the Committee on 27 October 2016, and the Committee recommended that it be confirmed by the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />In spite of all that, the Housing Executive, a major landlord in the North of Ireland, currently has only approximately 14,000 dwellings available to rent in rural areas. We are still not building enough homes, and that is even starker in rural areas.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. Given that the focus so far on housing in general tends to be on urban areas, I will make particular reference to housing need in rural areas. At the moment, NISRA classifies all settlements below a population of 5,000 inhabitants as rural.”
“<BR /> <BR />While we are waiting to add to our social housing stock, we must in the meantime stop selling off the assets that we have. Young people find it increasingly difficult to get onto the housing ladder, and uncertainty in the job market means that, for many young families, a Housing Executive home with some security of tenure and…”
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“Does the Member agree with me that, while the situation in the tower blocks is dire, many homes in rural areas are solid wall with no cavity wall insulation — indeed, no insulation at all — and that something needs to be done to rectify that, especially given that COPD, asthma and other respiratory conditions can result from it?”
“The Minister talked about going out to public consultation, and he said that he wants it to be a full consultation. How does he intend to consult with harder-to-reach rural communities?”
“The Committee noted that the most substantive amendments are made to provisions in the Social Security Administration Act 1992, and those relate to the uprating process, whereby income-related benefits are adjusted automatically when another income-related benefit is uprated — in this case, the state pension. <BR /> <BR />In addition, the Committee is content that the proposed order will amend the Social Security Order to provide for the inclusion of the right of appeal against decisions about certain National Insurance credits that count for new state pension purposes. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the Committee also noted that the order makes a consequential amendment to the Welfare Reform Order 2015. The Committee for Communities, therefore, recommends that the Pensions (2015 Act) (Consequential Amendments) Order be approved by the Assembly.”
“The Committee for Communities considered the SL1 relating to the proposed order at its meeting on 15 September 2016 and was content with the proposals. Subsequently, the proposed order was brought before the Committee on 27 October 2016, and the Committee recommended that it be confirmed by the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />As the Department previously informed the Committee in its proposals in September, the order will make minor consequential amendments to primary legislation to extend the existing administrative framework for social security and pensions to include the new state pension.”
“Will the Minister give serious consideration to restoring Coroners' Courts, industrial courts and family proceeding courts etc to local courthouses instead of centralising those functions?”
“I welcome the Minister's answer. I agree with her that this is about access to justice, and I welcomed her announcement earlier this year about keeping local access to justice.”
“Does the Minister agree that a multifaceted approach is required to bring about an end to hate-crime attacks on property owned by all sections of the community and that mutual respect for all cultural traditions is central to that?”
“What work is taking place to outline the impact of Brexit on border communities such as those that are scattered right across my constituency? I can see no positive impact at all.”
“Therefore, I ask the House to support the motion and suspend the house sales scheme.”
“However, of me and my nine siblings, not one of us was able to access a social house in the area where we grew up, in our community, despite numerous attempts to encourage the Housing Executive and housing associations to build new stock. <BR /> <BR />I have travelled extensively, and this is one of the few places I have been where owning your house seems to be the be-all and end-all. We need a greater stock of rented accommodation, and we need people to be able to access that.”
“<BR /> <BR />While we are waiting to add to our social housing stock, we must in the meantime stop selling off the assets that we have. Young people find it increasingly difficult to get onto the housing ladder, and uncertainty in the job market means that, for many young families, a Housing Executive home with some security of tenure and more affordable rent than in the private rented sector is the best option available. Unfortunately, only the very lucky few will be in a position to do that. <BR /> <BR />We have to look at good examples elsewhere, as has been mentioned. I was a beneficiary of the right-to-buy scheme. I was born and raised in a Housing Executive house that my parents bought and raised my family in.”
“<BR /> <BR />In spite of all that, the Housing Executive, a major landlord in the North of Ireland, currently has only approximately 14,000 dwellings available to rent in rural areas. We are still not building enough homes, and that is even starker in rural areas. In response to Assembly questions this year, the Department identified that 1,655 people were in housing need in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. However, while the figures do not correlate exactly, the housing need projection figures amounted to 72 homes in the Fermanagh and Omagh district and 538 homes in Mid Ulster — a total of 610 homes when our identified need was for under 2,000 people. Those figures cross three constituencies, so the need is far greater than the projected figures indicate.”
“Analysis of the current waiting list indicates that the main cause of homelessness in rural areas is unreasonable accommodation: a home that does not adequately meet the needs of the occupant. That scenario may be the result of a number of factors, and every case requires a different solution. <BR /> <BR />In rural areas in particular, where there is a lack of social housing — actually, a lack of available housing for any tenure, including bungalows for disability access — some customers have to make the decision to stay in inadequate or unfit accommodation rather than move to a location away from their family and support network. Therefore, a more flexible approach is required to meet housing need in rural areas.”
“Weekly incomes are, on average, lower in rural areas, particularly in the west, where almost 24% of individuals who have low incomes reside. There has been a dramatic decrease in owner-occupancy in rural areas from 76% in 2006 to 67% in 2011 and an increase in the private rented sector in the same years from 9% to 13%. <BR /> <BR />In March 2016, approximately 13·5% of those on the waiting list for social housing and 11% of those who were registered as homeless wished to be housed in a rural area. The proportion of social housing stock in rural areas, which is about 7%, remains significantly lower than in urban areas, where it is around 18%. Unfitness is higher in rural areas, as is fuel poverty.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. Given that the focus so far on housing in general tends to be on urban areas, I will make particular reference to housing need in rural areas. At the moment, NISRA classifies all settlements below a population of 5,000 inhabitants as rural. On the basis of that definition, there are just under 600 settlements located in the rural hinterland, which accounts for approximately 75% of the land mass of the North of Ireland. In 2011, 667,000 people or 37% of the population resided in rural areas. <BR /> <BR />The review of the outgoing rural homes and people policy in 2015 identified key statistics for rural areas. Between the censuses in 2001 and 2011, the rural population increased by 15% and the urban population by 7%.”
“The Minister is all too aware of just how busy the South Tyrone Hospital site is. Will she expand on how she sees South Tyrone Hospital fitting in with her approach as outlined in Delivering Together?”
“I concur with much of what the Chair of the Communities Committee and my colleague on that Committee Nichola Mallon have said. I am sorry that I was not able to stay for last night's debate, but I too want to point out that, while this is a welcome development, there are people in my constituency, Minister, who are stretching a jar of milk to pay day. These are people who are working and are not on benefits; they are working families who really struggle to make ends meet. We need to recognise that there is real poverty out there. Over 20% of children and around the same number of older people live in poverty. People do not have the disposable income to put into a savings scheme. We welcome it, but there will be people who will not be able to access it.”
“It was regrettable that the threshold was introduced by a previous Minister for Social Development. It has really been a disadvantage to many small towns and villages. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has outlined some of the things that he sees as being part of that: childcare, play facilities etc. He has set down a timescale of 18 months to two years. Is there an opportunity for the Department to engage with smaller towns and villages about what they would see, or do they have to wait to the end of that process for a decision on the threshold?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I am delighted he is considering lowering — hopefully, he will remove it altogether — the threshold for public realm investment in smaller towns and villages.”
“I listened carefully to the Minister's answer. What more can he do to maximise connectivity to black spots and hard-to-reach areas?”
“I suggest that the Minister spend some of that £3 million in BT70, because my children are about to divorce me.”
“The Committee has been busy scrutinising the Bill and the submissions it has received and speaking to stakeholders. While we are delighted to get the opportunity this early in the mandate to discuss the legislation, and we are keen to deal with it as quickly as possible, it is only right that we take the time to do it properly and end up with good legislation. I am happy to support the Chairperson on this and ask for an extension of the Committee Stage.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words on the motion.”
“Therefore, the Committee for Communities recommends that the statutory rule be confirmed by the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee considered that the intention of the regulations to waive collection and enforcement fees on the 2012 child maintenance scheme for a specific group of cases was a positive step, allowing time for the most appropriate payment option to be determined. The Committee is content that the regulations support the efficient management of cases and help to minimise the risk of payment disruption. Most importantly, the Committee is content that the regulations are designed to maximise the collection of child maintenance and that fees will only be payable by clients who require services to support their payments. The Committee also noted that the regulations also contain provisions to make minor technical amendments to existing child support regulations.”
“Go raibh mile maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. The former Committee for Social Development considered the SL1 relating to these regulations in March 2016 and was content with the policy objectives of the proposed legislation. The rule was brought before the Committee for Communities in June 2016, and the Committee had no objection to the rule. Members may be aware that, in June 2014, the former Department for Social Development began its programme of ending non-resident parent liabilities on all existing cases on the legacy schemes following the introduction of the new 2012 scheme administered by the Child Maintenance Service.”
“In light of what the Minister has said, are he, as an Executive Minister, and the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister aware of the importance of the areas of natural constraint scheme, especially with the fear and concern that is out there in light of the EU referendum result?”
“You do not want me taking a fit of the giggles in the middle of this, a LeasCheann Comhairle. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for his statement and for answering the questions with his usual honesty, clarity and a few other things. How important has the input been of the Welsh and Scottish Secretaries and the Basque Finance Department — I know that he has had discussions with them recently — on the work that he is doing?”
“Do you see the increase in the number of GP training places having a very positive influence on the delivery of the report, given that most people's point of contact is their GP?”
“I also welcome the Minister's statement and the publication of the report. There is a lot in there that I welcome, especially on mental health, children and looked-after children. <BR /> <BR />The Minister is aware that there is a lot of pressure in the system on nurses, social workers and other front-line staff. I very much welcome the increase in GP places, Minister. You are aware of the increasing pressure on GP practices in rural areas, particularly in Fermanagh. In reference to an earlier question, do not forget that, when people are travelling further for services, the road goes both ways. Hopefully people will be travelling west for some services rather than us travelling east all the time.”
“The Minister has pointed out that he is aware that there are difficulties in the square in Dungannon, especially around the plethora of traffic lights and traffic movement in the square. There have also been a couple of years of roadworks. As a result, people have chosen to shop elsewhere. Is the Minister prepared to do anything to help to counteract that problem?”
“I think that that has to be a priority for this Assembly.”
“I support the motion. While I have listened carefully to other Members' contributions, the important thing to remember is that we are dealing with a British Tory party which is hell bent on austerity. We had a very difficult negotiation with the British Government for a long number of months a year or two ago. <BR /> <BR />The fact remains that there is not a bottomless pit of money. We have done our best to mitigate the worst ravages of this. It was important to protect families with children. I suppose we are concerned about the impact that it will have and I look forward to hearing the Minister's responses to some of the questions here today. I welcome the fact that families with children are being protected. It is incumbent upon us as an Assembly to do all we can to try to alleviate child poverty and take children out of poverty.”
“That needs to be properly assessed. I ask the Minister to extrapolate the figures from the different trusts and bring in the need that is there currently; the need not just of people with physical disabilities, of which there are many, but of those with learning disabilities. They need to be factored into the waiting lists to ensure that we have a proper grasp of the need that is out there, and we can then find ways to meet that need and provide quality, affordable social homes for people right across the board.”
“The collapse in the property market meant that the average cost of an off-the-shelf home in 2011 dropped to just £60,000; less than half of the original price four years previously, so that was a very poor investment in monetary terms from the public purse. <BR /> <BR />Taking that along with the extension of the house sale scheme, I found that there was a knock-on effect across the board and much less in the way of social housing available to constituencies like mine. The decimated Housing Executive stock, which, I understand, now stands at around 88,000, means that we do have a knock-on effect, and there is not enough social housing for many of the people who need it most. <BR /> <BR />Before I run out of time, I would also like to talk about the 70% of adults with learning disabilities who currently live at home with carers.”
“I am not sure of that. In fairness to the Minister, while I was preparing for the debate, I did actually see references to the Village and her commitment to try to bring the housing stock up in that area. <BR /> <BR />The difficulty with buying off-the-shelf houses meant that, yes, some tenants in Belfast benefited from it, but there was decimation to the budget that had a knock-on effect across the region. It meant that, in real terms, housing associations had been given more than £130 million in taxpayers' money to purchase 1,400 homes and turn private developments into social housing.”
“For example, 2,201 house sales were completed during 2006-7, yet, in 2008, Margaret Ritchie chose to extend the house sale scheme. Further to that, she announced that she would provide funding for the purchase of off-the-shelf homes for private developers. Under this scheme, Clanmil Housing Association bought 40 private apartments valued in the region of £7 million, which meant an approximate cost of £175,000 per property. Who benefited from that? The developer certainly did, and so did the tenants, but was it the best use of public funding?”
“Again, housing in rural areas has always been of great interest to me. I am on record numerous times during my time in the Assembly, in this Chamber and the Committee for Social Development, talking about the level of unfitness, particularly in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. I was horrified when the then SDLP Minister removed the Housing Executive maintenance grant scheme and condemned many rural dwellers to live in accommodation that was not fit for purpose. I was aghast to hear that a scheme that was helping to bring houses up to a level of fitness in my constituency was done away with. <BR /> <BR />Around the same time, other changes in the allocation of the housing budget were to have unprecedented implications for the housing stock.”
“I am delighted to participate in today's debate. To a certain extent, I agree with Nichola Mallon's opening remarks: housing is a fundamental human right. Indeed, the issue of housing, or lack thereof, is the reason for my involvement in politics. <BR /> <BR />The Housing Executive was set up after the eviction in Caledon in 1968 and has worked to deliver the building and allocation of social housing for almost 50 years. However, in the SDLP's PFG submissions — six themed documents on poverty, infrastructure, justice, economy, health and childcare — social housing is not mentioned. It makes no mention of housing need or provision in rural areas.”
“I too am going to ask the Minister about rural proofing. I thank him for his statement. Does he agree that we have excellent schools with outstanding inspections that might fall into that category of being unsustainable? Should the Department not concentrate on bringing failing schools up to standard? My children are in composite classes. They are in an excellent school. I prefer them to get a quality education in a composite class than maybe a lesser education in a class where they are taught by a teacher for the year group.”
“The deputy First Minister may have partially answered my supplementary question, but can he elaborate on why the report was not seen by Ministers?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. As he said, there is an application in for a multipurpose hall that has a specific health and safety requirement. Do health and safety requirements attract a high priority when his Department determines such spending projects?”
“Will the Minister give an assessment of the current resource dedicated within his Department to benefit fraud?”
“This is an important issue. Housing is at the very heart of what I got involved in politics for. As Fra said, today is World Mental Health Day and World Homeless Day. A proper home and a roof over your head is not a privilege but a human right, and everybody should be able to enjoy that right. We should do more to build more houses, and I will support the Minister in his endeavours to do that. It is essential, however, that we establish new housing units right across the North, as this is not just a Belfast problem.”
“I notice that Mr Beggs has tried to interrupt a number of Members. Maybe he should put his name down to make a speech rather than continually interrupt.”
“As a result, there are ageing parents who are deeply concerned about how their child is going to manage when they are no longer able to look after them. We have to take a proper look at the figures and ensure that those people are dealt with when we are considering the number of housing units needed. While today's debate has been lively enough, there is a fairly high level of consensus around the Chamber. The SDLP amendment is something that we can support, and we will be seeking to do that. I make the point, however, that what is laid out in the amendment is work that is already happening. We are talking about something that has happened, that is happening and that the Minister —”
“The nub of the issue is that the body charged with the provision of housing — the Housing Executive — is no longer in a position to build units. My colleague Fra McCann has covered that. I believe that this is something that we will want to rectify during this mandate. Until this situation is rectified, we will still be playing catch-up. <BR /> <BR />There are differences of opinion on how many units of social housing we need across the mandate. We have not taken into consideration that there are hundreds of adults living at home with ageing parents because there is not enough supported housing or independent living for them. I am talking about adults who are learning-disabled or have more complex needs, and we do not have adequate housing for them.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. Other Members have pointed out that this motion is retrospectively debating an issue that has already happened and that, when the ONS acted to reclassify housing associations, the Minister for Communities and the Minister of Finance brought a paper to the Executive immediately seeking that derogation. <BR /> <BR />The point has already been made here as well that the difficulty we have is that there is a shortage in social housing, not just in Belfast or Derry but right across the North. I am currently representing a wide range of applicants, from families to single men, to access a home in my constituency. The big issue is that there are not enough units — enough homes — and there is not enough social housing.”
“I concur with the points made by my colleague Fra McCann, and I want to clarify this for the House. Mr McGrath said that he did not think that the hybrid Bill Standing Orders would be used. I assure the House that they will be used. I have had extensive discussions with the Ely Trust and hope to introduce a hybrid Bill in this mandate to sort out the outstanding issues. I want to put down clarification of that. I have been looking forward to the Standing Order going through so that we can proceed with that as soon as possible.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and responses. I refer her to paragraph 24. Were there any discussions of an all-island moratorium on fracking, given the very real concerns in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone about the potential damage to tourism, agriculture and the environment?”