Gordon Lyons
East Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Implementing other recommendations will require further legislation that, I trust, will come in the next mandate, but I can confirm that 60 of the recommendations have already been separately addressed by either the Department or the commission. I hope that that answers his questions.”
“Yes, I do and am happy to share those. The issue has been raised in the Chamber and through Assembly questions. My position is that we want to make it simple and straightforward for people.”
“They also introduce greater flexibility in financial reporting, allowing requirements to be tailored more appropriately, reducing burdens on smaller organisations and ensuring that the system can adapt over time through secondary legislation.”
“If they want to constitute as a Northern Ireland-only charity, they are able to do that, if they believe that that will bring certain benefits.”
“That is similar to what we are trying to do with trustees. Even though you leave your position as a trustee or your position as someone who holds an office in a charity or who has employment in the office, the commissioner will still be able to make a determination that says, "Even though you have left, we are still making this order to t…”
“I do not believe that it was. That was maybe picked up wrong. We are happy to look at and explore that, but that is the information that I have on it. Again, we will have the Committee Stage of the legislation, so we can look into that then.”
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“Section 1 of the Act requires the Executive Office to make period products available, free of charge, to anyone who needs them. As it is not a delivery body, the Executive Office partnered with Libraries NI, an arm’s-length body that is sponsored by my Department, to fulfil that duty. The initiative launched on 13 May 2024, and free period products are now available in all public libraries across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Section 2 of the Act requires Departments to specify, via regulations, which public service bodies must provide period products on their premises. The Department's regulations were debated and approved by the House on 6 May.”
“There is no doubt that the actions of Mears are impacting on the housing market. Anybody who would argue otherwise is simply not in touch with reality.”
“It is interesting: at the start of his question, the Member simply stated fact, and that seemed to rile some Members. It is a fact that, when you have that increased demand, it impacts on supply. It is true that Mears is coming in and increasing the cost of private rented sector accommodation. That is fact. I know that it might not be a comfortable fact for some people, because it does not fit in with the arguments that they are trying to make, but, in some constituencies, you see it very acutely. It is wrong for us to ignore the issue. We need to be aware of it. The worst thing that we can do is ignore it, pretend that it is not an issue or simply sweep it under the carpet. I am committed to playing my part in making sure that we have increased supply, but we need to deal with the demand.”
“The Member will be aware of the work that has already been undertaken on the issue — the work that began under my predecessor and that I am continuing, based on what was mandated by the Assembly. That is why I will be introducing longer notice to quit periods.”
“Yes, I accept that. We need more supply. That is why I brought forward a housing supply strategy. We all need to work together to make sure that we can have more homes across all tenures. That is how we deal with the issues. As the deputy First Minister said, just a few moments ago, the key issue here is supply and demand. Right now, we do not have the supply.”
“The remaining actions that I will deliver in the current mandate are the introduction of longer notice to quit periods, the amendment of landlord registration regulations to make the scheme a more meaningful tool in raising property standards and consideration of the best way forward in respect of minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector.”
“I agree. We have not only a Programme for Government commitment but, importantly, a housing supply strategy in which Executive colleagues have pledged to work together to identify the issues that impact on supply so that we can target those and make sure that we have more homes, including more social homes. It is only right that that is followed up by a commitment from the Executive to ensure that I have the funding in place to do what I need to do to build more homes. I will also play my part in ensuring that we make it as simple and straightforward as possible to build more homes. I am bringing additional recommendations to the Executive so that we will be able to do just that.”
“Absolutely, we are ready to go. It is always the case that we have a plan. It is about getting the funding in place. I have full confidence in the team, the housing associations and the work through the Housing Executive to make sure that, when additional capital funding is made available, we are ready to go. That is why we were able to make some of the progress that we made last year when additional funding became available.”
“I do not have that information with me, but I am happy to provide that to the Member to see whether an evaluation has been done. Nothing comes to mind at the moment.”
“Over-55s accommodation is a key part of the social homes that are offered through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and other housing associations. Modelling is done and demand is counted, and actions flow from that. The Member is absolutely right to raise the issue: we need more social homes across all the different categories. I am well aware of that. We can only do what we can with the money that we have. I am looking for more money, but I am also looking at other ways of making sure that we can build more. If people want to change and that need is there, we need to make sure that we are targeting it, because additional over-55s accommodation does not only help that age group: it helps in other areas where homes can be freed up.”
“The housing supply strategy was published in December 2024. If the Member is going to pontificate about housing issues, he should at least furnish himself with the basics.”
“At the start of last year, I had the budget in place to build 400 social home new starts. We ended up with over 1,500, so we do not judge the success of the Executive on where we are at the beginning of the year. Additional money will become available. We have the spending review later this week as well, and I am always looking for new and innovative ways to make sure that we can increase housing stock and, in particular, the number of social homes in Northern Ireland. That is something that I have done and will continue to do. However, I note that, in the debate on social housing last week, the Member said that the issue is:”
“I think that I have addressed Deirdre Hargey's point about public land. <BR /> <BR />I am glad that Mr O'Toole mentioned financial transactions capital, because we in this Department have done more than all the other Departments combined to make sure that we utilise FTC to address some of the housing problems that we face. <BR /> <BR />My time is running short. I want everyone in the House to be aware that I know the issues concerning housing in East Belfast and beyond and that I am doing everything that I can to help people across all tenures. Giving people a safe, warm and affordable home is one of the most important things that we can do, and I will not be found wanting in that regard.”
“I want them to make use of the powers that they have, but I recognise that they are constrained by some of those powers, which is why I am bringing forward new measures to make sure that we can tackle antisocial behaviour. The Member raised that with me last year, and I have taken action. We went out to consultation. I look forward to bringing in those changes as soon as possible and having the legislative vehicle to do that. <BR /> <BR />I will briefly address a few more concerns. Mr McReynolds talked about infrastructure. I spoke today to the Infrastructure Minister about waste water issues. It is absolutely right that we deal with that. Mr Brooks mentioned Mears. The approach of Mears has absolutely driven up prices, because it essentially names the price for property, which certainly has an impact on the affordability of rent.”
“That will deliver over 300 new-build high-quality homes over the coming years. Co-ownership was also mentioned today, and we continue to progress that. Mr Brooks raised the issue of availability in the private rented sector and rising rents in East Belfast. We certainly need to address that. In fact, some of the money that we are putting towards homelessness prevention can help in the private rented sector. <BR /> <BR />My time is running on, and I want to address a few other issues that were raised. Ms Bunting raised the issue of antisocial behaviour and its impact on entire communities as people are moved around from one area to the next. Housing associations and the Housing Executive often feel powerless in that regard. That will change.”
“Every week that goes by adds delay and cost to the building of new homes and anything else that we may want to proceed with. I specifically put additional resource into the historic environment division, and, as a result, we have gone from meeting 27% of our targets to 72% of our targets. That shows what can happen when we realise and identify what the problems are and put practical solutions in place. Those are the things that I am talking about when I say that we need to do things differently and look innovatively. I will always ask and bid for more money, but I want to make sure that we make the money that we have go as far as possible. I will continue to press for such positive changes. <BR /> <BR />Another example is intermediate rent. I appointed Maple and May to act as intermediate rent operator.”
“Absolutely. The whole point of bringing forward that proposal is to find ways to ensure that that public land is used. It is about not just the availability but the cost of public land and what can be done around that. If Executive colleagues are not able to help with cash, can they help in other ways, such as the provision of land? I will need to bring that to the Executive. <BR /> <BR />There are other options that we can look at. The planning system was mentioned. We need to make sure that it is as simple and straightforward as possible. There are actions that Ministers can take. There are proactive things that we can do to move it along. The historic environment division, which sits in my Department, is a statutory consultee. When I came into office, we were hitting our targets about 27% of the time.”
“One of the issues has been mentioned, and that is land. Land costs contribute about 20% to the cost of new homes. We have a lot of public land in Northern Ireland. We have a lot of unused public land across Departments, district councils and other public bodies. I want to see that land being used. The Executive are not cash-rich, but they are asset- and land-rich. I hope that Executive colleagues will recognise the particular need that exists in my Department and that we can find a way to come to an arrangement that ensures that that public land is used when we face what the House has declared to be a crisis in housing.”
“I prioritised the allocation of funding to new-build social homes. Over 80% of available funding is being directed to the social housing development programme. It will allow delivery of 900 to 1,000 new-build homes, but I recognise that it is significantly short of our target. However, bids will be submitted in-year to the Department of Finance to address the shortfall. I will continue to press for adequate funding to meet the Programme for Government commitment. I am more than happy for Mr O'Toole and others to continue to raise the issue in the Chamber. I encourage you all to do so because I want Executive colleagues to be aware of the strength of feeling and the need to meet the target. I welcome the fact that housing has been highlighted and is on the radar.”
“The cost-of-living pressures are a reality for many, and I will bring forward a fuel poverty strategy at the end of the year. <BR /> <BR />In the last financial year, I provided close to £180 million for the social housing development programme, which ensured that we were able to start 1,504 homes. In the East Belfast constituency, 66 social homes went on-site in the last year, with a total of 288 under construction at the end of March 2025. There were also 62 social homes completed in that time, and a further 197 are to start as part of the programme over the next three years. I recognise and understand that it is not enough. I would like to be able to do so much more for the people of East Belfast and beyond. <BR /> <BR />I made my budget announcement to the Assembly yesterday.”
“He asked for an update on when the housing supply strategy would be published: I am pleased to tell him that the strategy was published in December 2024. I am sorry that he is not here for me to remind him, because I know that Mr O'Toole loves to pull us up, where possible, and it would have been nice to remind him of that. Nevertheless, we have a housing supply strategy in place, and work is well under way on the first action plan. <BR /> <BR />We have also secured housing as a priority in the Programme for Government. We have an Executive commitment to provide the homes that we need and a joined-up commitment across the Executive to make the necessary changes to meet the need. We have also secured commitments around homelessness prevention as well as taking decisive action to reform the private rented sector.”
“It is one that we all face as constituency representatives, and we have all seen how acute it has become in recent years. Since I came into post, I have worked tirelessly to make sure that housing has the priority it deserves. I have been clear with Executive colleagues that we need to focus on delivery, and that means taking action to meet the increasing demand for social and affordable housing. We need to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurrent. We need to make better use of publicly owned land and find ways to address our waste water infrastructure constraints. <BR /> <BR />We have made significant strides over the last year, and I am more than happy to highlight some of the actions that we have been able to take and the positive changes that we have made. Unfortunately, Mr O'Toole is not in his place any more.”
“I thank the Member for securing the Adjournment debate. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion, and I thank her for her clear passion for East Belfast and its people. I have no doubt that, if she were ever to leave the House, there would certainly be a career for her as an estate agent because she talked so eloquently about East Belfast and the locality. However, we know that that may well be a difficult job because of the difficulties we face with housing in East Belfast and across Northern Ireland. It is not the first time that we have debated the issues around social and affordable housing in the Chamber. Some of the issues raised today are specific to East Belfast, but most of what has been discussed is replicated across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I understand the issue.”
“I met Jen Condon, executive vice president, during my visits to Washington. I was able to secure special status for Northern Ireland. America250 is enthusiastic about the opportunities to partner on events to commemorate the anniversary. I am pleased to say that the memorandum of understanding between my Department and America250 is nearly complete. For me, it is about promoting this place and highlighting Northern Ireland in the United States of America. Some in this House do not seem to like that too much — some would rather that I did not get stand out for Northern Ireland — but I am going to continue to do that, because it will be of benefit to people across Northern Ireland.”
“I am really proud of this place and of the people who came before us. I am proud of those who left these shores and had such an incredible impact on the founding of the United States of America. I want to capitalise on opportunities, and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is one such opportunity. That is why I announced funding of £250,000 in 2025-26 to support community-based and high-profile cultural events. My officials are working on the development of a funding scheme. A number of people from arts and cultural organisations have already come to me with ideas about how they can showcase Northern Ireland and tell the stories of the people who left this area to go to the United States. <BR /> <BR />In the US, the commemoration is being led by America250.”
“I absolutely agree with the Member. For too long, Libraries NI has had to deal with year-on-year cuts. It has managed to keep its head above water despite those financial challenges. This year, I increased the resource allocation and, as the Member outlined, provided capital money for Libraries NI. I hope that that will ensure a more timely spend for Libraries NI's book stock and ensure that libraries are fit for purpose. I do not have a timeline to share with the Member today, but I have no doubt that she will continue to lobby me on that and many other issues in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.”
“The £200,000 that I have allocated is for work that will need to be done in this financial year to start the process. That money is part of a wider package of almost £6 million of capital investment by my Department. I am pleased that we have been able to deliver for libraries in Fivemiletown and Enniskillen. I look forward to doing the same for Newtownards. Mrs Dodds is lobbying me about Banbridge library, and no doubt I will hear from other Members about libraries in their constituencies. Libraries are an essential resource. I want to make sure that they are fit for purpose, and I will do all that I can to progress that work on behalf of the people of Newtownards and beyond.”
“I thank the Member for inviting me to Newtownards library. I found it unacceptable just how small that library is for a town the size of Newtownards, and I am really pleased that there are plans in place to expand it.”
“I have been clear that I want to make sure that we have the right people in the right place doing the right jobs. We have to remember that every post is funded by people who pay their rates and taxes, and therefore we need to make sure that we have the right staff in place. Earlier, I announced that I had 1,000 vacancies that, for a number of years, I have not been able to fill. That is the sort of thing that we need to look at. I want to look at all our vacancies and make sure that we have the right people in place throughout the Department and that we no longer retain posts that are not needed, because, ultimately, we are here to serve the public and to make the best use of the resources that we have. I just want to make sure that I prioritise my baseline and that any additional money that I get goes to the right place.”
“I met the Infrastructure Minister's predecessor in relation to that issue and will, no doubt, meet the current Infrastructure Minister soon, because infrastructure, particularly waste water infrastructure, is absolutely critical, if we are to meet the targets in the housing supply strategy. I will work with all Executive colleagues to make sure that that happens, because it is one of the most critical issues that we face.”
“I thank the Member for his hearty welcome for my statement and for his endorsement of that and of the job that I am doing. <BR /> <BR />The Member mentioned the serious issue of housing. Clearly, if I had all the budget allocation that I wanted, we would be able to proceed with the homes; it would just mean that we would be looking at areas in which there is capacity in the system. We are keen to look at that. On the wider issue of housing, is the lack of waste water capacity an issue? Absolutely. It is driving up the cost of building and completing homes. I want to see that change.”
“I thank the Member for raising Rhys's incredible success at the Olympic Games in Paris last year. I will see him today and will get an update on the funding that I made available for the medal winners from Paris 2024. That was split between those who were successful, and the funding has been used for new equipment and to expand opportunities to participate in sports. <BR /> <BR />Building on that fund, I am pleased to announce a £1 million capital investment programme under the theme of Olympic legacy, and that funding will enable our sports clubs and community groups to develop or modernise their facilities or buy large items of equipment. The objective of the fund is to generate a substantial legacy for sport in Northern Ireland following Paris 2024 and to improve infrastructure and equipment provision.”
“I am grateful to the Member for raising that question, because it is raised frequently with me. There was an Arts Council event a couple of Saturdays ago in the town hall in Ballymena for those who applied to the musical instruments fund, and it was raised with me time and time again how the application process could be better. Therefore, I have tasked officials with reviewing the application process to make it much more streamlined in order to ensure that it does not become an obstacle to application.”
“I share the Member's delight at the money that is being allocated to Carrick Castle. That £1·6 million will be used for works to the castle vaults and officers' quarters and refurbishment of the cannons and the main gate. I do not know whether that takes them entirely back to the working order that they may have been in some time ago, but I have been told that the cannons are being refurbished anyway. There will also be works to the castle sea tower, along with conservation works to Carrick town walls and Carrick gasworks. <BR /> <BR />The castle is an incredible resource in East Antrim, but it has been underutilised and underdeveloped in the area's tourism potential. I hope that it will encourage more people to come to Carrickfergus to visit the castle and to spend more time in East Antrim before they head up to the Causeway coast.”
“<BR /> <BR />The causes of homelessness have mostly remained relatively consistent over the past nine months, but those who are transferring from being the responsibility of Mears to being the responsibility of the Housing Executive — no accommodation in Northern Ireland under section 95 — are in the only category that has shown clear growth. Numbers in that category rose from 365 households last July to 578 households in March this year. As a result, it has now become the fourth most common reason for temporary accommodation. <BR /> <BR />It is an issue that primarily lies with the UK Government. That is why it is so critical that they get their immigration policy right and deal with those who are coming here outside of the immigration policy that is in place.”
“It is absolutely the case that illegal immigration is having an impact when it comes to housing costs in Northern Ireland, and those who say otherwise are lying to you. It is a real problem, and it is time that we had a bit of honesty when it comes to the debate, because, ultimately, it is a supply issue. <BR /> <BR />I can inform the House that close to 2,600 individuals in Northern Ireland are being supported by the Home Office while awaiting a decision on their application for asylum. Those are obviously issues for the UK Government. They pay through the Home Office for that accommodation, but that still has a pressure on housing costs here, because of the increased demand and the prices that Mears is often able to pay in relation to that.”
“The statement is about budget allocations for 2025-26. The Member will be aware that there is no confirmed overall budget in place for Casement Park that comes anywhere close to our being able to proceed with that development. That is why I have not allocated money for that purpose. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to announce once more that, after 14 years of the football fund being held up, it is progressing. I look forward to that money being spent, and I will make a statement on it in due course. Whether that money is allocated and spent during this financial year and how much money there will be are yet to be seen.”
“I am grateful to the Member for his question and for inviting me, when I was in a previous job, to his constituency to hear about the plans for the maritime museum. I am pleased to confirm to the Member that, this year, I am allocating £500,000 to the development of the maritime museum. It has an incredible story to tell. There is so much history there and a story that is often not told, but I want to make sure that we can tell that story. I hope that the half a million pounds of funding will contribute towards that.”
“I thank the Member for her lobbying for Bloomfield Community Association and for inviting me out there. We had a fantastic morning a few weeks ago, and there is a photograph to prove that. I am delighted to provide that support along with Belfast City Council, ensuring that it has the facilities that it deserves. <BR /> <BR />With regard to Your School Your Club, my priority is to make sure that existing facilities or areas where facilities can be enhanced are given the support that they need for that to happen so that we can help schools and, at the same time, ensure that there is community access. I am more than willing to look at all options. I know that the Member is vociferous in her lobbying, and I have no doubt that I will hear more from her on that matter soon.”
“I know that others in the House have struggled with that reality and with the court judgement, but I will not be found wanting in ensuring that we protect ourselves by following and implementing the law. That is not dependent on me waiting for advice from anyone else. We will take our own counsel on it and ensure that we give out the guidance and, where necessary, the instruction to make sure that we are on the right side of the law.”
“I do not want to fall foul of the law or open us up to any challenges that might come our way.”
“I believe that the Member is referring to the Supreme Court ruling against Scottish Ministers. It is absolutely right that all Departments are aware of that. Some like to say that the judgement does not apply to Northern Ireland because the Equality Act 2010 does not apply to Northern Ireland, but that is completely wrong. It does apply; of course it does. Of course it will impact on us. I welcome the judgement. Above everything else, it was a common-sense judgement, but there are requirements that have come from it. The highest court in the land has made a declaration on same-sex spaces in particular, and that has consequences. I will not be found on the wrong side of that.”
“That is exactly why I have made the announcements that I have made today. The musical instruments fund is not focused on one area but spread across Northern Ireland; the funding for artists in residence is for every district and borough council in Northern Ireland; and the small grants scheme focuses on areas outside Belfast. The Arts Council has a number of inescapable pressures — some things continue to need to be funded — but where there is flexibility and where I have been able to allocate extra money, I have ensured that that has been done in a regionally balanced way, because I do not want anyone to have less opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts simply because of where they live. I have made concrete announcements and proposals today on how we will do that.”
“I am afraid that the Member will have to wait a little while longer. I can tell the House that we have had some good news. Officials have been working intensely with all the relevant stakeholders, including the council, over the past number of weeks, and I am absolutely determined that we get the work started and the project delivered, because I understand the frustrations that many people have had about it.”
“If I were to tell you now, I would not have anything to announce tomorrow.”
“I am more than happy to meet the Member there to see how we can help and make sure that they are given support. I agree with him that that is not an acceptable situation for the clubs to be in after all that time. I have met members of the community association there as well, and I understand the pressure that they are under, so I am more than happy to meet the clubs. I am passionate about making sure that we have provision for sport in Northern Ireland, because I understand how important sport is. My Department will do anything that it can to help.”
“I thank the Member for his kind words and can confirm that significant progress has been made in recent weeks. People have been waiting for the development of Queen's Parade for almost 40 years, or perhaps a little longer. I am delighted that we are making progress. There will be a significant announcement tomorrow at 2.30 pm. I pay tribute to the mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Alistair Cathcart, who has worked closely with me in recent days to make sure that we get the project over the line. I look forward to that work starting, because the people of Bangor have been waiting too long. It is time that the development is delivered, and I am delighted that it will be.”
“It is hard for me to put a figure on how many jobs will be created, because so many areas of my Department are involved, but the departmental budget demonstrates my commitment to rural areas. The Member can see what I have already done about housing in Northern Ireland, and a significant number of regeneration projects will be in rural areas. I am not someone who focuses only on cities. I am here to serve all parts of Northern Ireland, urban and rural.”
“I thank those who have taken me to visit some of the individuals who have benefited from the programmes. Other colleagues, including Diane and Phillip, have taken me to see where the money has been used. It is making a difference to people's lives, which is why I will make sure that the programmes continue.”
“If they have not received confirmation yet, I hope that they will very shortly. The Member has frequently raised Arts Council issues with me, and I hope that she is encouraged to hear that, having been allocated £9·7 million at the start of the previous financial year, the Arts Council's opening allocation for this year is almost £10·3 million. I hope that, even in the constrained budgetary environment, the Member can see the additional investment that I am trying to put towards the arts. <BR /> <BR />I want the rural small grants programme and the musical instruments fund to be sustainable programmes, because they are making a difference. It is not the same people who get the resource every time. Rather, it is shared around different groups, organisations and bands across all parts of Northern Ireland.”