Housing ring-fencing strategy should stay - Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has supported the Participation and Practice of Rights (PPR) Project that appeared in front of an Assembly scrutiny committee last week to express their anger that a protective measure that guarantees North Belfast social housing has been removed.
PPR appeared in front of the social development committee last Thursday to explain the impact the removal of the measure will have on North Belfast.
Under original Housing Executive strategy North Belfast, West Belfast and Derry, the three areas in the North in most housing need, were 'ring-fenced' to ensure the budget was there to build new homes for those who most need them.
The 'ring-fencing' strategy meant that North Belfast was guaranteed 250 housing units per annum to address the religious inequality in social housing provision.
The decision to remove the 'ring-fencing' strategy was up for public consultation in a document called a draft Equality Impact Assessment of the Social Development Programme Strategic Guidelines. However the measure has already been removed, meaning North Belfast will see annual targets of 250 housing units reduced to 177 - a 29 per cent decrease.
MLA Carál Ní Chuilín who sits on the social development committee said the people of North and West Belfast and Derry have been "failed" by the decision.
"It is important that a group like the PPR Project can go in front of a government scrutiny committee," said the Sinn Féin MLA.
"People in areas like North Belfast, West Belfast and Derry will suffer with the removal of this equality protection. This is a very serious issue that needs to be addressed, this ring fencing measure should never have been removed."