PRESS RELEASE

COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 

20 September 2007

SD 03/07

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE TO KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON SEMPLE REVIEW GROUP

The Assembly Committee for Social Development have vowed to keep an active interest on the review of affordable housing in Northern Ireland.

The Committee will be briefed by officials from the Department for Social Development’s Housing Division after every meeting of the Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group. The Review Group was established by Minister Margaret Ritchie to consider the recommendations made in the Semple Report on Affordable Housing in Northern Ireland.

At its meeting on Thursday, the Committee requested progress reports on the work of the Review Group after each of its bi-monthly meetings. The request was made following a briefing at the meeting by officials from the Department on the progress made so far.

Mr Gregory Campbell, Committee Chairperson said,

“The Committee will keep a tight watch on the work of the Review Group. Minister Ritchie has declared housing as a priority and the Committee wants to make sure that it remains so. The Committee has some concerns that things are not moving fast enough, for example the implementation plan that was to be developed by September 2007 is not likely to be available until December 2007.

The Committee Chairperson went on to say,

“The Semple recommendations must be given full and careful consideration but the Department cannot drag its feet on this issue. An implementation plan needs to be developed as a priority and the Department must demonstrate strong leadership in tackling the affordable housing crisis”.

Note to Editor:

The Chairperson of the Committee is Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA.

The Deputy Chairperson is Mr David Hilditch MLA.

The Committee has a further nine members:
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA

The Clerk to the Committee is:
Marie Austin
Committee Office
Northern Ireland Assembly
Room 412
Parliament Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3XX

Telephone - 028 9052 1864
Fax - 028 9052 1667
E Mail – committee.socialdevelopment@niassembly.gov.uk

Media enquiries to:
Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office, Room B2, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX.

Telephone 028 9052 1137
Fax 028 90 52 1961.
Website Address – archive.niassembly.gov.uk
E-mail – info.office@ niassembly.gov.uk