Analysis in progress: 97,639 of 97,778 records assessed (99.9%). Totals and rankings will change until it finishes. Progress details
All of Mr Gordon Lyons’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
1,781 records match, page 56 of 72.
I am trying to make sure that we have as many housing options as possible. We want affordable housing, social housing and a sustainable private rented sector. That is why we are taking forward changes under the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. As I said to the Member earlier, there are concerns about the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rent Controls Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rent Controls
That will form part of the housing supply strategy as well as the fuel poverty strategy that I hope to bring forward in due course. It is important that we look at all the available options for making homes more energy-efficient and helping with, for example, home generation of electricity through solar panels. That…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency Schemes Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency Schemes
I am sure that the Member will be aware of a number of things that we are doing on energy efficiency. He will be aware of the affordable warmth scheme and the potential for its replacements, as well as the development of the fuel poverty strategy, which, as I said earlier, is absolutely key. We want people to have…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency Schemes Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency Schemes
I am certainly happy to do that. I have a growing concern on hearing that, because it comes up more frequently that homes receive planning permission and are constructed but issues seem to arise later. That increases costs, makes it more difficult to build homes and creates uncertainty in the sector. I am happy to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Social Housing: Templemore Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Social Housing: Templemore
I am not aware of any issues with the development that the Member has mentioned, but I will certainly speak to officials and see what the hold-up is, if there is one. I will come back to the Member in writing.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Social Housing: Templemore Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Social Housing: Templemore
Yes. That is certainly the case. I witnessed that just last Friday in Larne library in our constituency. Libraries are not just a place to get books; there is so much more that can be done. I congratulate library staff on the services that they provide for people of all ages but for older people in particular.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Libraries NI: Capital Projects Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Libraries NI: Capital Projects
I thank the Member for inviting me to Newtownards and showing me the current state of the library. It has fantastic staff who do great work, but the building is simply not fit for purpose. Therefore, the redevelopment of Newtownards library is a key priority for Libraries NI. The present location on Regent Street…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Libraries NI: Capital Projects Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Libraries NI: Capital Projects
Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints in 2024-25, my Department has provided Libraries NI with just over £4·7 million in capital funding to progress committed projects. The funding provided will allow Libraries NI to complete carbon retrofitting work in Killyleagh library, to complete construction of the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Libraries NI: Capital Projects Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Libraries NI: Capital Projects
Yes. I have corresponded with Executive colleagues on the matter. I am pleased that most Departments have come back with a link person for the proposed interventions under the three pillars, which are minimising the impact of poverty, minimising the risk of poverty and assisting people to exit poverty. That work will…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy
I am certainly happy to consider that, and I am happy for other Departments to consider it as well. Some of the proposals that we will have in the anti-poverty strategy, funded with a relatively small sum, can leverage huge savings for the rest of the public sector now and in the future. Having data along those lines…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy
No. I addressed that with the Member in the Chamber when we debated child poverty in North Belfast. I will bring the draft strategy to the Executive in early 2025. I just outlined for the Member the steps that first need to be taken, because I want to make sure that there is sufficient collaboration and working with…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy
Addressing poverty in all its forms is a key priority for me. As poverty is a complex and multifaceted issue, my Department is engaging with officials from other Departments to develop a final anti-poverty strategy and a range of actions that will help mitigate impacts, reduce the risk of falling into poverty and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Anti-poverty Strategy
That is absolutely the case. We have seen incredible improvements in the energy efficiency of those homes compared with what went before. They were built to a very high standard, but we want to roll that out. We need to make sure that our homes are more energy-efficient, because that will save us and our constituents…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy
We hope to have the Housing Executive revitalisation programme in place very soon. The way that I see it and the way that it has been presented is that we are looking for confirmation from Treasury that the borrowing powers that we seek are already in place and that we should be able to borrow. This should not…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy
Each of those will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Where the Executive has approval for demolition and a new build, there is a timetable setting out anticipated timescales for the rehousing of the residents, demolishment of the properties and appointment of a developer to deliver the new housing. We hope to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy
The Housing Executive was given approval to construct those properties in North Belfast. However, the way ahead for the Housing Executive to have a regular remit to build homes is still to be resolved. The Housing Executive already has a legislative basis designed to facilitate its borrowing. Currently, however, it…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Tower Block Strategy
It is absolutely the case, and I think that I speak for everybody in the House when I say that there is no room for intimidation in our society. There is no justification for that sort of activity. I will certainly give whatever support is required to make sure that we deal with the issues affecting communities. This…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points
It is the responsibility of the Housing Executive and, therefore, ultimately, the Department to ensure that people have a safe place to live. I am certainly happy to raise the Member's issue with my officials to see what else we may be able to do. The Member will be aware that various programmes are in place to help…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points
I certainly have engaged with those who are supported through the Housing Executive, housing associations and the different programmes that they run. It is very much the case that the outputs of the research will facilitate evidence-based decision-making, and an options appraisal will be carried out by the Housing…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points
I absolutely agree with the need to support people in the way that the Member outlined. That is why I am waiting for the recommendations from the Housing Executive, which, obviously, has the expertise in delivering the scheme. It is absolutely right to recognise the problem and make sure that our system reflects the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points
I hope that it is imminent. The Member will be aware of the report that has been commissioned and is now with the Housing Executive. I await recommendations from that and want us to be able to move on them very quickly. I assure the Member that I absolutely recognise the need for us to protect those who are at their…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points
Changes to the housing selection scheme are under way, including an exploration of options for the future of intimidation points. Under the current scheme, someone who leaves their home as a result of domestic abuse can be allocated points for homelessness and primary social needs points for violence or the threat of…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing: Intimidation Points
In its budgetary bid for 2024-25, the Housing Executive advised that a budget of £193 million would be required to deliver starts on 2,000 new social units this year. I intend to bid for additional funds in the next monitoring round to ensure that we can have new-build social housing. Importantly, I will continue to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy
It certainly is, because, as I have set out before, we want people to have not only homes to live in but warm, safe and secure homes to live in. That will be a key part of the strategy. We need to do that to meet the net zero targets, but, importantly, it benefits people, and that is why it needs to be taken forward.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy
I will not go as far as the Member on that one. I certainly do not think that it would be an academic exercise. It is certainly an issue that we need to tackle, and it is a drag on our ability to have the homes that we need across Northern Ireland. The whole purpose of the housing supply strategy is that it recognises…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy
Download all records matching these filters (up to 100,000 rows): CSV · JSON