DSD: Housing Division
Social Development
3:15 pm

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin)

13. asked the Minister for Social Development whether he has any plans to review the workings of the housing division within his Department to ensure that it is fit for purpose.    (AQO 1909/11-15)

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

Questions 5, 6 and 13 are interconnected and, with your permission, Mr Speaker, I propose to answer them together. I plan to bring forward a new housing strategy in the coming weeks that will seek to address the wide range of challenges we face in the housing sector. Critical to that new housing strategy will be making sure that we have the best structures in place to deliver our strategy in the coming months and years. That means that we need to critically examine the current structures in the Housing Executive, the housing association movement and, of course, my Department’s housing division, which has policy oversight for all of this. The fundamental review of the Housing Executive is completed, and I hope to announce a way forward shortly.

The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations has recently appointed a new chief executive officer. I understand that a programme of reform and greater collaboration is already under consideration and that my Department’s procurement strategy is a key part of that. As I said earlier, with a new housing strategy soon to be announced, our focus will turn to delivery, and if the current structures or arrangements cannot meet that challenge, I will act quickly and decisively to change them.

Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

I thank the Minister for his answer. What is the Minister’s assessment of the recommendations of PWC to create a single social enterprise landlord to drive housing reform?

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

The PWC report was initiated under my predecessor. I always like to give credit to those who did things prior to my arrival in the Department. Members over there will notice that I do that quite often.

It was a PwC report. We are now at the stage of producing detailed recommendations, which will be taken forward through the normal process. It will go through the Executive and then be brought to the Assembly. It would be premature of me to comment on those in advance of that process. I am sure that the Member will recognise that it would be somewhat inappropriate.

Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answer so far. Does he agree that there are too many housing associations?

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

It is not necessarily a question of the size of the housing associations. Certainly, there is a case to be made that, with larger housing associations, there is an economy of scale. Nevertheless, some of the smaller housing associations provide a very good local service. At a time when we are seeking to lever in as much money as possible to provide social housing, and the larger the scale of housing association the easier that probably is, there is a strong argument to be made for greater collaboration, at least, and co-operation across the housing associations. That sense of collaboration and co-operation and the introduction of procurement groups are a movement in the general direction. I know of a number of housing associations that are engaged in a process of consolidation. Three or four housing associations in my constituency are seeking to amalgamate into one, and I know of another in the constituency that is in the process of being merged into another housing association. A process and a tendency are emerging — in some degree, even from the housing associations themselves.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin. Will the Minister give us an idea of what form the new structure will take?

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

If the Member is referring to the new structure of the Housing Executive, which I assume he is, my response is the same as that to a previous question. The package, in regard to the Housing Executive, will be brought forward to the Executive — that is, the Executive of the Assembly — and then to the Assembly in due course. Until we do that, it would be premature to deal with it in questions on the Floor of the Assembly.

Anna Lo (Alliance)

Is shared housing included in the review? If not, how is the Minister going to gauge the developmental need for shared housing?

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

For me, shared housing can mean a number of different things. It depends on different areas and how it works out on the ground. Of course, shared housing should never be seen in isolation from other sharing. Housing is just one part of life. Where I live will be influenced by the school that I can send a child to or by the social or recreational facilities that are available in an area. It is wrong to simply take out housing and look at it in isolation. We should be looking at how we improve the process of sharing across a range of services, and I particularly think about education. The availability of local appropriate education is one of the key factors in determining where people live. You have only to look at the impact on an area of housing if a school closes in that area and the way in which people might move away from that area. Let us look at these things in a more joined-up way. Certainly, the issue has been in my mind.

William Hay (DUP)

Some Members may have difficulty in rising in their place to ask a supplementary question. I will try to encourage them.

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

First, the questioners keep trying to draw us down a particular road of saying in advance the outcome of our deliberations. I commend the Members for their tenacity and perseverance. It is very commendable, but I am afraid that it will be unsuccessful.

We will announce those things in due course and take them through the process in the proper way.

As the Member will be aware, I have had a number of requests to visit New Mossley from him and from members of my party. I am sure that I will take that up at the very earliest opportunity.

William Hay (DUP)

Question 6 has already been answered.