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Housing Executive warns of cuts Housing Executive warns of cuts
(about 1 hour later)
The Housing Executive has warned a major budget shortfall means it will have to reduce services to meet its main priority of building new homes.The Housing Executive has warned a major budget shortfall means it will have to reduce services to meet its main priority of building new homes.
The executive, which has published its budget for 2009, said it plans to spend £157.25m on building 1,750 new homes.The executive, which has published its budget for 2009, said it plans to spend £157.25m on building 1,750 new homes.
However, it said in order to meet this target it would have to reduce the amount it spends on other projects.However, it said in order to meet this target it would have to reduce the amount it spends on other projects.
Home improvement and refurbishment schemes for the disabled will be among services worst affected by the cuts.Home improvement and refurbishment schemes for the disabled will be among services worst affected by the cuts.
The executive said that while work would go ahead on disabled people's homes which were easily adaptable, only 30 of the 200 disabled people who had applied for funding for major extensions to their properties would get funding.The executive said that while work would go ahead on disabled people's homes which were easily adaptable, only 30 of the 200 disabled people who had applied for funding for major extensions to their properties would get funding.
Downturn
Paddy McIntyre, chief executive of the Housing Executive, said providing more social housing was Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie's main focus.Paddy McIntyre, chief executive of the Housing Executive, said providing more social housing was Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie's main focus.
"With the housing waiting list topping 40,000, Minister Ritchie has made new social housing her top priority," he said."With the housing waiting list topping 40,000, Minister Ritchie has made new social housing her top priority," he said.
"The Housing Executive will concentrate its capital funding on meeting this increasing need.""The Housing Executive will concentrate its capital funding on meeting this increasing need."
However, Mr McIntyre said the collapse in the housing market had cut millions of pounds in income the executive generated from house sales.However, Mr McIntyre said the collapse in the housing market had cut millions of pounds in income the executive generated from house sales.
"The global economic downturn has had a severe impact on local housing and on housing funding," he said."The global economic downturn has had a severe impact on local housing and on housing funding," he said.
"We estimate that sales will bring in £6m this year compared to over £100m two years ago."We estimate that sales will bring in £6m this year compared to over £100m two years ago.
"Consequently money which had previously funded housing programmes and the private sector grants scheme is no longer available.""Consequently money which had previously funded housing programmes and the private sector grants scheme is no longer available."
Brian Campfield from the NIPSA trade union, which represents many staff in the Housing Executive and Housing Associations, described the housing budget as "totally inadequate."
He said: "While the Minister has highlighted her preference to focus on providing additional social housing it is unfortunate that this has to be at the price of schemes designed to maintain and improve the standard of existing housing stock.
"It is clearly a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul and while the Minister is entitled to determine her own priorities NIPSA has no doubt that the Stormont Executive as a body must bear full responsibility for this disregard for the housing needs of our community."