Fra McCann Motion 121
Published: 1 March, 2008
Fra McCann is a West Belfast MLA and party spokesperson on Housing.
A chairde agus comradraithe
This year seen another record set north of the border, it is a record I hope we never get used to, and that is those declaring them selves homeless.
Over 20,000 people declared themselves as being homeless last year and if things keep as they are, we are in for another record year.
Mháigh breis is fiche míle duine go raibh said gan dídean anuraidhagus mura n-athríonn cursaí tá bliain buaice eile i ndán dúinn.
We are told in the programme for government that 10,000 houses will be built in the next 5 years.
But in the announcement to the assembly on Tuesday last Margaret Ritchie informs us that a figure of 5,250 new houses is to be built in the first 3 years but does not tell us if she will meet the target set by Peter Robinson in the programme for government of 10,000 new build in 5 years.
In fact she does not tell us how many houses will be realised ether in the form of social houses or affordable homes from the out workings of the departmental review into social and affordable housing.
The minister has continuously said she has not enough money to build additional housing, yet housing associations have been advised to buy houses of the shelf (that is houses on the open market) so it will pad out end of year social housing programme figures.
All this at the cost of a new build programme.
She announced that every one will be able to by a share of their home, if this happens what do the 38,000 people on the waiting list. Is this the SDLP's way of dismantling the social housing sector and make way for the private rented sector to take over this role.
Sinn Fein demanded the scandal of empty homes be tackled, some 40,000 across the north many in the hands of speculators.
We hope her announcement on Tuesday will finally bring this scandal to an end. We will wait and see.
Tá muid ag súil go mbeidh deireadh leis an scannal seo i ndiaidh a ráiteas Dé Mháirt.
Fanfaidh muid agus chífidh muid.
Sinn Fein had a motion passed at the assembly calling for the mandatory registration of landlords, which had the support of the assembly which has been ignored by the Minister
She has announced that she and the Minister of the Environment are discussing developer's contributions to the social and affordable sector, something we have consistently argued for.
But the minister refuses to answer the question and that is what percentage will they be required to give, and when can we expect the first houses to roll in.
Will it be next month, next year or 5 years down the line?
Also this week the Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie laid out her plans to the assembly.
It was in many ways all things to all people. But like all things the devil is in the detail if it was meant as a statement of intent it left many questions unanswered.
She announced a reduction in the grant to housing associations by 10% this means more involvement of private institutions, is this again another sign that the minister is privatising the social housing market.
And what of affordability, she was asked what was her definition of affordability,
She also refused to answer this question. Sinn Fein is very clear on this we believe that government have a responsibility to provide social housing.
We believe that government have a responsibility to create the conditions where an affordable market exists and then set the prices to ensure they are affordable for the thousands of low paid workers who aspire to own their home but can't afford the inflated prices.
Sinn Fein believe their should be one single body responsible for the building and provision of social housing in the north. Not 37 as is the case at present.
Sinn Fein also believes that developers should be setting aside at least 25% of all sites for social and affordable housing. With no buy out clauses.
Sinn Fein believe that sectarianism has no place in housing, this is rampant in areas like north Belfast where hosing authorities turn a blind eye to D.U.P bigotry who demand that areas lie as wastelands before they would let a nationalist house be built.
Or the areas of the north which has not had a social house built for over 5 years. Large pieces of land belonging to her department in Belfast have lay as waste but wont allow social houses to be built there in case they offend the bigots.
Sinn Fein Have continuously called for high quality mixed tenure housing to be built to replace the housing estates of the past.
We believe in building communities, not the housing waist lands of the past, this can only be done as part of a housing strategy which has an infrastructure built into it to allow communities to grow.
This is what Sinn Fein is about; we are the party of change, the party which stood with communities demanding better housing. We are also the party, who cares.
The party who across this Island are involved with in our communities in community associations, residents associations, in development groups demanding a better deal for those who government have by-passed.
Sinn Fein has never been found wanting standing shoulder to shoulder with communities in their demand decent housing.
We need to agitate and organise we need to mobilise people to defend the right to a decent home. To be able to live free of intimidation, to be able to excess a home at an affordable price.
Let's not leave it to the party of waffle the SDLP.
But move forward with the party of change, the party of Connolly and Sands.
Caithfidh muid bogadh chun tosaigh leis an pháirtí athrithe, an pháirtí de chuid Connolly agus Sands.
Vótáil ar son rún céad fiche a haon.
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