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.
I recently met representatives of Barnardo's who deal with children who are leaving care and have experience of homelessness. Is the Department able to put in place any additional supports, particularly working with the Northern Trust or other health trusts, with the knowledge that those young people will be leaving…
My Department and the Housing Executive offer a range of services to support the prevention of homelessness. We also have voluntary sector hostel accommodation for single households and families, as well as refuges for victims of domestic abuse, single lets and dispersed temporary accommodation. The Housing Executive…
The Member is absolutely right. It is a decision that the Housing Executive has taken. I am sure that it is not one that it wanted to take. The Member asked me what I am doing: I want to do everything that I can to make sure that homelessness is brief, rare and non-recurrent. I want to make sure that the funding that…
I thank the Minister for his answer. He is aware that homelessness is not confined to the hours from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Can he outline what measures he has taken to prevent homelessness and to safeguard the out-of-hours service that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive provides?
That is an issue for the Housing Executive, and its chief executive has advised me that it does not record data by parliamentary constituency but rather by local government district. I can inform the Member that, during 2023-24, the Housing Executive received 1,288 homeless presentations in Mid and East Antrim and a…
As I mentioned in my previous answer, the funding, as I understand it, is not used for those purposes. It is used to support all ratepayers, so I do not believe that a rural needs assessment has been carried out. That review is being done, however. It will be with me shortly, and I will, of course, take on board all…
The councils have informed us that the money that comes from the rates support grant is used in: "assisting all their ratepayers' rate bills". The policy impact on some of the section 75 categories is therefore considered by DFC as either "minor" or "no impact", because it affects everybody in the same way. It is not…
I do not think that that definition lies with me, but, if there are specific issues that, the Member thinks, I need to take on board as part of the outcome of the review, I am happy to do so.
Minister, can you confirm that, when the review is completed, you will define "essential services" to ensure that councils can provide them if there is a reduction?
First, the Member mentions the review. He will understand that that is ongoing. I expect it to be completed in mid-November. As Minister, I will do all that I can to seek as much resource as I can for my Department for all the affected areas. Secondly, regarding regional balance, it will be up to councils to decide…
I thank the Minister for his answer, and I blame the Business Office for the question. My initial question, which I will now ask as a supplementary question, was on the independent review of the rates support grant, which was commissioned, as I understand it, by the Minister from Business Consultancy Services (BCS).…
The steps that I am taking forward are multifaceted: one relates to working with the Minister for Infrastructure on waste water infrastructure, which, as evidenced in today's Question Time, is a key issue; and another relates to river basin management plans. We are reviewing the current plans and taking into account…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Does the Minister agree that the separation of grey and foul water is an important aspect in the development of that infrastructure?
The lack of investment in waste water infrastructure in Northern Ireland is having a severe impact on water quality. It is contributing to about 24% of the issues in Northern Ireland. That is why we need to invest in those areas. The lack of investment in waste water infrastructure is not just holding back…
I am not personally aware of any discussions, albeit I am not saying that they have not occurred. I will make enquiries, today, and write to the Member by the end of the week.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he clarify whether he or his Department have had any discussion with Northern Ireland Water to ask whether the reed bed installation at Walworth in Ballykelly, in 2021-22, may, in any way, be contributing to the presence of mosquitoes in the Ballykelly area?
I am concerned about that. My Department has received correspondence and is considering the issue. I encourage people to consult their general practitioner and health officials, in the first instance, because, obviously, it is a public health issue. The Department is looking at the issue, and I know the concerns about…
I am firmly committed to a just transition. I made a bid, via the Department of Finance, to the UK Government for a just transition fund for agriculture. That was not met, last week, as part of the Budget, so I will be engaging with my Executive colleagues on that funding for next year. Whatever we do around climate…
We are progressing the third climate change adaptation plan and engaging with Executive colleagues on it. Alongside that, we are looking to set our first carbon budgets and to introduce our first climate action plan. They are absolutely critical interventions that we need to make for Northern Ireland. I engage…