This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8243388.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Threatened policeman 'in limbo' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie said lack of funds meant she could not help a police officer and his family forced from their home by a dissident threat. | Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie said lack of funds meant she could not help a police officer and his family forced from their home by a dissident threat. |
The officer applied to the government's Sped scheme, which buys property from people considered to be in danger. | |
He said he had agreed a price of £250,000 with the Housing Executive for his house, but was later sent a letter saying the funds were not available. | |
The officer said he felt he had been "let down big time" by the minister. | |
"Margaret Ritchie recently launched a programme in Lurgan teaching children to manage money which, I think, is a joke considering her own organisation cannot manage their own money," he said. | |
"I don't think Ms Ritchie should be hiding behind the banner of the Department of Social Development. | |
"I think she should come forward and be accountable for her own mistakes and take responsibility." | |
Mrs Ritchie said she needed more money to help families in need and was pressing for funds. | Mrs Ritchie said she needed more money to help families in need and was pressing for funds. |
"I faced this year a major shortfall in my housing budget, right across all the pressures of that budget," she said. | |
"I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget. | "I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget. |
"I have already written to the minister for finance about the Sped budget. | |
"I have told him that I see it as a priority and I have already bid for funds in this September's monitoring round." | |
The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents. | The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents. |
He and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance. | He and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance. |
The Sped (Special Purchase of Evicted Dwellings) scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left. | The Sped (Special Purchase of Evicted Dwellings) scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left. |
I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget Margaret RitchieHousing Minister | I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget Margaret RitchieHousing Minister |
The family have been living in rented accommodation paid for by the PSNI, while continuing to pay the mortgage on their former home. | The family have been living in rented accommodation paid for by the PSNI, while continuing to pay the mortgage on their former home. |
Their time in the rented property is about to end. They were about to sign the paperwork on a new home but that now has to be put on hold. | Their time in the rented property is about to end. They were about to sign the paperwork on a new home but that now has to be put on hold. |
In the intervening six months, the officer, who is in his his late 30s, has suffered a stroke, leaving him partially sighted. | |
The Police Federation has written to the Security Minister Paul Goggins, urging him to resolve the issue. | The Police Federation has written to the Security Minister Paul Goggins, urging him to resolve the issue. |