8. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for Communities to outline his Department’s plans to reduce housing stress in areas where there is high demand. (AQO 773/22-27)

The social housing development programme (SHDP) is a three-year rolling programme of planned social housing schemes, based on the identification and analysis of housing need by geographical area. The formulation of the SHDP is shaped by the Housing Executive's strategic guidelines, which ensure that the programme targets those areas of greatest social housing need. In managing the programme, the Housing Executive administers the housing association grant to facilitate the delivery of social housing, and directs housing associations to identify and bring forward development opportunities in those areas of greatest unmet social housing need.

I thank the Minister for his response. It was a bit convoluted. Given the shortage of funding for housebuilding, can he ensure that he will stand over houses being built and delivered on objective need, rather than along sectarian or social engineering lines, and that houses will be allocated to those who are in housing stress on the housing waiting list?

I am sorry if the Member believes that my answer was convoluted. I was simply setting out the process for how the funds are allocated. I can certainly assure the Member that I am not doing anything on the basis of sectarian decision-making.