Menu
31/07/2015
Environment Minister Urged To Address Social Housing Shortage
The Social Development and Environment Minister, Mervyn Storey, has been urged to address "the dire lack of social housing in rural areas".
Making the call, Sinn Féin MLA, Oliver McMullan, said: "I asked Social Development minister Mervyn Storey for a breakdown of the number of social houses in rural areas across the North and discovered that of the 120,000 social houses in the North, just 18,000 are in rural areas.
"This shows a clear disparity between social housing developments in towns and cities and in the countryside.
"This shortage of social housing in rural areas will come as no surprise to the many rural families who have been forced to relocate to urban areas because of lack of housing.
"Young people in particular, whose families have been in rural communities for generations, now find themselves unable to find social housing where they grew up and have to move elsewhere.
"Mervyn Storey needs to take urgent action to address the dire shortage of social housing in rural areas to help ensure the sustainability of rural communities. The way houses are allocated in rural areas also needs to be reformed.
"Environment Minister Mark H Durkan too has a responsibility to zone land in rural areas for social housing.
"We need to see a joined-up approach from both these departments to support rural dwellers to live in their own communities."
(MH)
Making the call, Sinn Féin MLA, Oliver McMullan, said: "I asked Social Development minister Mervyn Storey for a breakdown of the number of social houses in rural areas across the North and discovered that of the 120,000 social houses in the North, just 18,000 are in rural areas.
"This shows a clear disparity between social housing developments in towns and cities and in the countryside.
"This shortage of social housing in rural areas will come as no surprise to the many rural families who have been forced to relocate to urban areas because of lack of housing.
"Young people in particular, whose families have been in rural communities for generations, now find themselves unable to find social housing where they grew up and have to move elsewhere.
"Mervyn Storey needs to take urgent action to address the dire shortage of social housing in rural areas to help ensure the sustainability of rural communities. The way houses are allocated in rural areas also needs to be reformed.
"Environment Minister Mark H Durkan too has a responsibility to zone land in rural areas for social housing.
"We need to see a joined-up approach from both these departments to support rural dwellers to live in their own communities."
(MH)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
10 November 2020
New Rural Social Enterprises Capital Grant Scheme Announced
A new £300,000 capital grant scheme to aid emerging and established rural social enterprises to increase their capacity, potential profitability and sustainability, has been announced by Rural Affairs Minster Edwin Poots.
New Rural Social Enterprises Capital Grant Scheme Announced
A new £300,000 capital grant scheme to aid emerging and established rural social enterprises to increase their capacity, potential profitability and sustainability, has been announced by Rural Affairs Minster Edwin Poots.
29 April 2002
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
06 August 2015
Crumlin Social Housing Scheme Opened
A new social housing scheme of three and four bedroom houses has been officially opened in Crumlin. The fourteen new homes for families on the social housing waiting list, is owned and managed by Habinteg Housing Association who funded the build, with support from the Department for Social Development.
Crumlin Social Housing Scheme Opened
A new social housing scheme of three and four bedroom houses has been officially opened in Crumlin. The fourteen new homes for families on the social housing waiting list, is owned and managed by Habinteg Housing Association who funded the build, with support from the Department for Social Development.
14 September 2022
Rural Communities To Be 'Hit Hard' By Cost-Of-Living Crisis
Northern Ireland's rural communities will be "hit hard as the cost of living crisis bites", Alliance MLA John Blair has said.
Rural Communities To Be 'Hit Hard' By Cost-Of-Living Crisis
Northern Ireland's rural communities will be "hit hard as the cost of living crisis bites", Alliance MLA John Blair has said.
22 July 2009
Cross-Border Study Targets Ageing
A top Irish university is set to lead a cross-border research network which will explore healthy ageing in rural communities on the island of Ireland. NUI Galway will co-ordinate the network, which is the first of its type and will draw on expertise in social care and public health, gerontology, economics, spatial planning and rural geography.
Cross-Border Study Targets Ageing
A top Irish university is set to lead a cross-border research network which will explore healthy ageing in rural communities on the island of Ireland. NUI Galway will co-ordinate the network, which is the first of its type and will draw on expertise in social care and public health, gerontology, economics, spatial planning and rural geography.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
