Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I am happy to wind up on our amendment. It has been a good debate so far and has been held in good tone. I say from the outset that there should be no room for party politics when it comes to a housing crisis and when people need a roof over their head. There should be room not for…
The Member highlighted the scale of the problem, and he also highlighted, like many of us, the fact that 1,000 new homes will not be enough. Does he support our calls for "additional capital investment" to be secured by the Department for Communities so that it can deliver more homes?
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I share the Opposition's concerns about the slow progress on the housing supply strategy. The Programme for Government sets an important target of commencing at least 5,850 new social homes by the end of the mandate. If we want to meet that target, we need to make speedy and sustained progress…
I appreciate the Minister's giving way. I am talking about a wider holistic context of outcomes. My points are about the impact on our other public services. More often than not, when we bring issues to Ministers, they say, "I am sorry: it is not in my remit", but, ultimately, it is. My biggest frustration with the…
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I begin by sincerely thanking the Opposition for tabling the motion. I am always happy for there to be a focus on the subject. It is important to me and to the people of Northern Ireland. I thank Mr Durkan for his tone today, which has been uncharacteristically conciliatory. I think…
I appreciate the Member's giving way. Does the Member share my concern that the Minister has refused to introduce a no-fault eviction ban to ensure that constituents such as hers, whom she mentioned, and mine are protected, given the lack of such legislation?
Housing continues to be the most common issue brought to my office by constituents, closely followed by domestic abuse. Sadly, in our siloed government, those two problems are often treated separately. It really is not acceptable for someone who is fleeing domestic violence to find themselves stuck in a hostel or an…
The housing crisis is one of the greatest scandals that the Executive oversee. Despite recent events and what we have heard over recent days, the housing crisis and the wider crisis in public services are not caused by migrants, migration or asylum seekers. The crisis in public services is caused by a cruel economic…
The Executive's lack of a short-term plan undermines their long-term promises. The maths simply does not add up, and communities are paying the price. Illegal HMOs are adding to the strain. Members may not want to face up to it, but HMOs are pushing up rents in working-class areas. The current system, whereby all HMO…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Immigration, asylum, race, ethnicity and TravellersCriteria met: Sectarian or communal antagonism.
I am happy to support the Member's comment. The housing crisis cannot be solved without first solving the problems with our waste water infrastructure.
The Member highlights the issue for NI Water with water infrastructure. Does he accept that the issue does not appear to be cutting through to the Minister for Infrastructure, who has not brought forward any new initiatives?
Northern Ireland Water says that it needs £640 million this year to fund its investment appropriately, but it has got £321 million. There are 37,000 houses with approved planning permission, but the network has capacity for only 18,000 in specific areas across Northern Ireland. Moreover, 34 areas across 23 towns are…
The promise of 100,000 homes by 2039 rings hollow when we cannot deliver 1,000 social homes this year. Over 44,000 people are on housing waiting lists. In my constituency, families feel the real impact of that inaction, which is worsened by such systematic failures as Northern Ireland Water's inability to support new…
No, I do not have time. The Ulster Unionist Party amendment highlights some of the practical actions taken by our Minister and new initiatives that he has brought forward to increase housing supply. Therefore, we will support the Ulster Unionist amendment. An extremely constrained financial climate in which there are…