MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.00 PM ON TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2002.

Present:

Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr M Robinson
Mr G Kelly
Mr E ONeill
Mr T Hamilton

Apologies:

Mr J Tierney
Sir J Gorman
Mr S Wilson

In Attendance:

Mr S Graham
Mr L McLernon
Mrs Janette Anderson Miss F Douglas

Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.14 p.m.

Public Session

1. Housing Inquiry (Homelessness) Oral Evidence By The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing.

The Chairman welcomed the members of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing to the meeting at 2.15 p.m.

In attendance:

Alan Rea - Director of Housing, BIH Association

Christopher Williamson - Director of NI Federation of Housing Associations

Ms Maura McNally - Director Dungannon ∓ District Housing Association

The members of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing made a presentation to the Committee and a question and answer session followed.
The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence.

The Chairman thanked the members of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing and they left at 3.09 p.m.

Private Session

2. A.O.B.
Effective Approach to Homelessness

The Committee discussed the approach to dealing with Homelessness and agreed there were clear relationships with Health and Education. The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Chairmen of the Education and Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committees and to the respective Ministers to draw attention to this point.

The Committee expressed concerned about the absence of written and oral evidence about rural homelessness and that the Clerk was asked to explore how the issue might best be addressed.

3. Date of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 28 February in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
FEBRUARY 2002

22 February 2002 / Menu / 28 February 2002