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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Deal reached over re-housing fund | Deal reached over re-housing fund |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Stormont ministers have agreed to make the money available to buy the houses of police officers and others intimidated from their homes. | Stormont ministers have agreed to make the money available to buy the houses of police officers and others intimidated from their homes. |
| A police officer, forced from his home by a dissident threat, had been told his home could not be purchased. | A police officer, forced from his home by a dissident threat, had been told his home could not be purchased. |
| After a meeting on Thursday, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said homes could be purchased from Friday. | After a meeting on Thursday, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said homes could be purchased from Friday. |
| On Wednesday, Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie said she needed more money to help families in need. | |
| Earlier this week the BBC revealed the Sped (Special Purchase of Evicted Dwellings) scheme had run out of money. | Earlier this week the BBC revealed the Sped (Special Purchase of Evicted Dwellings) scheme had run out of money. |
| The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance. | The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance. |
| However, the scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left. | However, the scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left. |
| Mr Wilson said the Sped scheme was an "important issue that had to be resolved". | |
| "It's an example of how the Executive can work," he said. | |
| "We have agreed a way forward which will enable the housing minister to purchase the properties and deal with what is a great issue of human interest to the people involved." | |
| Ms Ritchie said the deal paved a "good way forward". | |
| "I am very pleased this issue has been resolved, which will allow me to help the people that are in deep suffering and deep misery as a result of the level of intimidation," she said. |