Debate contribution: Intimidation Points: Housing Selection Scheme

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 28 January 2025.

MLA

Mr Gordon Lyons

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

28 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Intimidation Points: Housing Selection Scheme

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4763669

Read the official Assembly record

Text

First, I agree with the Member that it is a horrendous situation that the innocent victims of domestic abuse are often the ones who have their lives most uprooted. That should not be the case, but we have to deal with the applicants as they come to us, and that is why I want to make sure that there is that level playing field right across Northern Ireland in regard to the points. I cannot comment on the actions of the previous Minister, but, from my point of view, I have always said that I am a Minister who wants to get things done, to move forward and to make sure that we are delivering for people in Northern Ireland. That is what we are doing today. I received the research and the recommendations, and I considered what the housing associations and what many Members across the House have said to me. I have taken that on board, and I have taken action. The Member also raised issues in relation to a transition phase. Obviously, we want to move to that next phase, and we want to do that as quickly as possible. However, I want to be fair to those who have already gone through the process, and that is why those who have already been awarded points will retain those points until they turn down two reasonable offers of accommodation or find a suitable home.

That is an important review that will need to take place. We should make sure that we get it right, because it will have a huge impact on the allocation and on the lists. That will take time. I do not expect that to be done this year. I think that it will be later on into next year before that is completed. We want that done as quickly as possible, but, obviously, we want it to be as comprehensive as possible as well.

I thank the Member for her comments, and I welcome her interest in the issue. She has raised it with me on a number of occasions, and I know that she will be pleased with the outcome and with the impact that this will have, as she rightly said, on victims in Northern Ireland. I am committed to doing this as quickly as possible. I think that that is what Members across the Chamber want to see happen. I believe that that will be done by the end of this financial year. Obviously, we need to work in coordination with the Housing Executive on that. I have to say that I have a very good relationship with the Housing Executive and with Grainia Long, who is doing a very good job in her role as chief executive. We will be working together to do this as soon as possible, and it is certainly our intention to have this done by the end of the financial year.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:53 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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