Debate contribution: Homelessness: Emergency Accommodation
Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on .
- MLA
- Mr Gordon Lyons
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 29 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Homelessness: Emergency Accommodation
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5761388
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Yes, that is the case. As I have said, I have sought agreement from the Executive to ensure that homelessness is properly provided for. We all know that there is uncertainty around our Budget for this year and future years. I have placed a priority on prevention. I wanted to make sure that that money is in place and ring-fenced, as we have done and as the Executive have agreed to do for other issues, such as health waiting lists. Homelessness is meant to be an Executive priority.
During the summer, I brought a paper to the Executive requesting that funding for homelessness prevention be made available. Unfortunately, not only was that refused, it was not even able to get on the Executive agenda. We were not able to have a conversation about it, because the First Minister did not prioritise the money for it. It should have been prioritised, because investing in homelessness prevention will save us so much more money later.
We know that the First Minister has a disregard for the law. She also has a disregard for her own Programme for Government. She should be ashamed of herself on homelessness, because it is important work. She should also offer an apology to Colm Gildernew for making a complete mug out of him and his private Member's Bill. He is, rightly, trying to deal with the issue. I think that he is sincere in wanting to tackle homelessness, but when it comes to it —
248 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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