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Assembly clashes over housing as minister accused of a `deeply concerning´ record

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said they are building `what they can with what they have´.

Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister rejected criticism of the number of new social homes being built stating they are building “what they can with what they have” in terms of funding.

During questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday, Gordon Lyons said it had been estimated that just 400 new homes would be built in 2024/25.

He said that because he secured additional funding, some 1,504 new homes were started, with 1,410 completed.

“Again in (20)25-(20)26, my initial budget would only have secured around 1,000 new starts on social homes, but by securing additional budget, we were able to start 1,765 with 1,538 completed,” he told MLAs.

He added there was “no way” to plan and deliver the construction of a large and complex programme to build thousands of homes on hundreds of sites without budget confirmation, but said he would continue to make the case.

Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason said there are 4,000 people on the waiting list for a social home in her constituency of South Down.

She said that just 28 new social homes being delivered in the area since Mr Lyons took up office is “deeply concerning”.

Mr Lyons responded agreeing the numbers of social homes being built “doesn’t meet the need”.

“We have 5,000 social homes under construction right now.

“I think that South Down is very similar to East Antrim in that regard I would like to see far more social homes in my constituency as well,” he said.

“But we’re building what we can with what we have.”

Mr Lyons added that he has asked for more money from the Executive to build more social homes, but has not been given it.

“I need to get money from the Finance Minister and from the First Minister,” he said.

“I put a paper to the executive.

“That paper said that ‘we have a commitment in the programme for government, are you prepared to fund this?’, and it hasn’t even got on the Executive agenda.

“So I’m committed to doing my part in the absence of proper funding from the executive.

“I’ve made it cheaper to build social homes as we look at the design guide and make sure that we do that.

“I’m looking at how you can use public sector land as well.

“I will continue to do that, but this comes down to money.

“I’m spending better the money that we have, but we need to do more.”