Debate contribution: Social Housing Fraud

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 15 June 2026.

MLA: Mr Gordon Lyons
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 15 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Social Housing Fraud
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5614132

Text

Absolutely. I have made tackling that fraud a priority since I came into office, which, I know, has been a source of frustration for other parties, including Sinn Féin. The issues are connected, because the fewer social homes that there are, the longer that the waiting list is. If people are committing fraud, I make no apology for making sure that we take appropriate action. We need to prioritise public services for those who need them, not for fraudsters. The Member talks about Sinn Féin hypocrisy when it comes to social housing. The greatest hypocrisy of all from Sinn Féin, however, is the continued failure of its Finance Minister to fund the social housing development programme properly. If housing is a priority, it should be funded. It has not been funded, yet that is what we need to see happen.

140 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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