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Written Answers to Questions (Continued) Housing Benefit Discretionary Payments Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to outline, from April 2002 to date, any funding which has been transferred from one housing district to another, for housing benefit discretionary payments. (AQW 439/02) Mr Dodds: Funding for Discretionary Housing Payments was allocated by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on an indicative basis for 2002-03 as the scheme had only been introduced in July 2001. These allocations have subsequently been reviewed and changed to reflect actual demand. The budgets were also revised at an Area level to provide greater flexibility. The table below lists, by Area, both the indicative budgets and the revised budgets. Discretionary Housing Payments - Funding Allocations 2002/03
Housing Benefit Discretionary Payments Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the reasons for extra demand upon the housing benefit discretionary payments in the Ards Borough Council area and Ards Housing Districts. (AQW 440/02) Mr Dodds: As the Discretionary Housing Payments were only introduced in July 2001, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is not yet in a position to determine cause/effect at a local level by way of demand. Demand for Discretionary Housing Payments can vary because of: -
Housing Benefit Discretionary Payments Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development what steps he is taking to address the shortfall of funding for housing benefit discretionary payments in the Ards Borough Council area and Ards Housing Districts. (AQW 441/02) Mr Dodds: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has increased the allocation of Discretionary Housing Payments for the South East Area, which includes the Ards Borough Council area and Ards Housing Districts, by £70,000 to address the increase in demand in 2002/03. Housing Benefit Discretionary Payments Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to outline, from April 2002 to date, the funding available per month, per housing district area, for housing benefit discretionary payments. (AQW 442/02) Mr Dodds: The funding for Discretionary Housing Payments is allocated by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at an Area level on a yearly basis to provide greater flexibility. The allocations for 2002-03 are: -
Means Testing: Mrs Nelis asked the Minister for Social Development if he can confirm that the current means testing of parents with disabled children seeking adaptations meets the Equality legislation as outlined in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. (AQW 471/02) Mr Dodds: A basic principle underlying the allocation of scarce public resources is that resources should be targeted at those most in need. In pursuance of this principle, grants legislation provides for a means test to be applied to all applicants for grant aid (for renovation work or adaptations for the disabled) in order to assess the amount of public money required to assist them to meet their needs. Since the means test is applied to all grant applicants, regardless of Section 75 category, the provisions are not considered to be in contravention of equality legislation. In addition, in its response to the recent consultation exercise on the Housing Bill, carried out by the Social Development Committee, the Equality Commission did not seek to question the equality implications of the means test as it applies to applicants for Disabled Facilities grant. Means Testing: Mrs Nelis asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the remit of the review in respect of the means testing of parents of disabled children seeking adaptations. (AQW 472/02) Mr Dodds: The terms of reference for the review and the final composition of the review group should be finalised shortly. I refer the Member to my written response to AQW 22/02 contained in the official report for 20 September 2002 which indicated the broad aims of the review. Heating Applications Mr McClarty asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 4400/01, what is the proposed timetable for the completion of outstanding heating applications. (AQW 514/02) Mr Dodds: Heating Installations in some 700 properties have been suspended due to potential safety issues affecting some solid fuel room heaters and high output back boilers. Installations in homes without such appliances are continuing as normal. The Warm Homes Scheme is designed to assist vulnerable people who are most at risk from fuel poverty, and their health and safety is my paramount concern. My officials are currently assessing the level of risk associated with these appliances, and they are exploring a number of possible solutions. Whilst it is not yet possible to say when this process will be complete, it is progressing as quickly as possible. The Eaga Partnership, which manages the Warm Homes Scheme on behalf of the Department, has assured me that they can resume installations immediately upon receiving instructions. Warm Homes Scheme Mr McClarty asked the Minister for Social Development what action will be taken to ensure that difficulties regarding outstanding applications for the Warm Homes Scheme will be resolved before the onset of winter. (AQW 515/02) Mr Dodds: Heating Installations in some 700 properties have been suspended due to potential safety issues affecting some solid fuel room heaters and high output back boilers. Installations in homes without such appliances are continuing as normal. The Warm Homes Scheme is designed to assist vulnerable people who are most at risk from fuel poverty, and their health and safety is my paramount concern. My officials are currently assessing the level of risk associated with these appliances, and they are exploring a number of possible solutions. Whilst it is not yet possible to say when this process will be complete, it is progressing as quickly as possible. The Eaga Partnership, which manages the Warm Homes Scheme on behalf of the Department, has assured me that they can resume installations immediately upon receiving instructions. Dwelling Demolition Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the schedule for the proposed demolition of 16 dwellings at Leckpatrick Gardens, Artigarvan, Strabane, and subsequent restructuring of this location. (AQW 523/02) Mr Dodds: My Department has given the Housing Executive the necessary approval to demolish the dwellings in question. The Housing Executive is currently preparing the relevant tender documentation and has opened negotiations to buy back one property from an owner-occupier. It is intended to have the work commenced by the end of January. Voluntary/Community Sectors: NIHE Funding Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail recipient groups of financial support via (a) core funding; (b) project funding; and (c) service funding as a result of the NIHE’s increased joint working with the voluntary and community sectors since February 1999, and the NIHE’s approval of the paper entitled ‘Relationship with the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland’. (AQW 524/02) Mr Dodds: I attach for your information a list of those voluntary and community bodies which receive core funding, project funding and service funding from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (List A), and Voluntary Activity Unit (DSD) (List B). LIST A
List B
2001/2002 Continuous Tenant Omnibus Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development, in light of the 2001/2002 Continuous Tenant Omnibus Survey Interim Report, to detail (a) those areas of service where satisfaction levels have fallen; and (b) those areas deemed worthy of further examination by the NI Housing Executive. (AQW 525/02) Mr Dodds: The interim report published in July 2002 provided key findings for the year 2001/2002 and showed that satisfaction with Housing Executive services had not fallen in any instance in comparison to 2000/ 2001. The full report is due to be published in November 2002 and will be used, along with other performance information, to direct the Housing Executive to those services which might be reviewed. Commissioner for Complaints Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to the Commissioner for Complaints Annual Report 2001/2002, to detail, of the 14 cases which were upheld or partially upheld by the Commissioner, how the 6 cited cases of maladministration were dealt with by the NIHE. (AQW 526/02) Mr Dodds: In each case the Housing Executive issued a letter of apology, together with the agreed settlement, and is implementing changes to procedures as recommended by the Commissioner. Homelessness Strategy & Services Review Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail membership of the Steering Group to monitor progress of the Homelessness Strategy and Services Review’s recommendations. (AQW 527/02) Mr Dodds: The Steering Group comprises: Mr Colm McCaughley, Director of Housing & Regeneration,
Northern Ireland Housing Executive Ms Ricky Rowledge, Director, Council for the Homeless Ms Janet Hunter, Director, Housing Rights Service Mr John McGeown, Assistant Director, North & West Health and Social Services Trust Mr Norman Hagan, Assistant Principal Officer, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Mr Maurice Rooney, Principal Officer, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Mr Stephen Graham, Assistant Director, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Mr Sam Kendall, Principal Officer, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Ms Dolores Ferran, Assistant Director of Corporate Services, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Mr Brendan Fulton, Assistant Chief Officer, Probation Board for Northern Ireland Ms Carol O’ Brien Director, The Simon Community Northern Ireland. |
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