AQW 4913/16-21

Mr Chris Lyttle
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 10/10/2016
Answered On Date: 17/10/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he has plans to address the housing waiting list.

Answer:

Officials are currently working up proposals for changes to the allocations system for social housing, following publication of independent recommendations on this issue. Any proposals for change will be subject to a full public consultation.

Increasing the supply of social housing also addresses the housing waiting list. My Department has been working with the Housing Executive and housing associations to deliver new build across all areas of Northern Ireland. We have made significant achievements in new build and exceeded Programme for Government targets each year. We will continue to deliver new build housing and target those areas most in need, bearing in mind that many sites have competing development demands and some will have planning constraints, including zoning for non-residential use.