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The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) is calling for any additional funding that flows from the new Labour government’s commitment to “turbocharge the building of houses” to be ringfenced for social housing in the devolved country.
In a letter to ministers, NIFHA, which represents 20 housing associations, asked that any additional funding for the Northern Ireland Executive announced from Westminster should be ringfenced to ensure that it helps deliver additional homes across the country.
The letter was sent to the housing secretary in England, Angela Rayner; the minister for finance in Northern Ireland, Caoimhe Archibald; and Northern Irish communities minister Gordon Lyons.
The devolved nation gets money through the Barnett formula when Westminster allocates funding to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, but it is not ringfenced.
The call comes after the Department for Communities’ (DfC) budget was cut by 38%.
The budget, approved by the Northern Ireland Executive, allocated the DfC £133m in capital funding for 2024-25, down from £216m last year. The capital budget for the department, which is responsible for housing, funds the Social Housing Development Programme.
In June, officials revealed to the communities committee that there will only be enough funding for a maximum of 400 social housing starts this year.
NIFHA, along with other housing and homelessness bodies, previously outlined their “grave concerns” over the cuts to the first and deputy first minister.
Seamus Leheny, chief executive of NIFHA, said there is a “staggering gap” between the homes that are needed and the number that are funded.
He said that unless “we see real action to ensure both the social housing budget and the challenges to development are addressed, that gap will grow further”.
Mr Leheny added: “The commitments that the new Labour government are making around housing are encouraging, and show a real commitment to ensuring that more homes are built.
“As this policy progresses in England, we want to ensure that it can also benefit families here.”
He acknowledged the financial pressures that “all departments face”, but said the importance of social housing “cannot be ignored”.
“Housing has an important role in health, educational and employment outcomes, and should be given greater recognition.
“Housebuilding has both social and economic benefits, and in Northern Ireland social housing development is key for the construction industry.
“We will continue to press this issue with the communities minister, the finance minister and the deputy prime minister,” he said.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department for Communities have been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for the Treasury said: “We are resetting our relationship with the Northern Ireland Executive and will work in partnership to deliver on the priorities of people in Northern Ireland.
“The Northern Ireland Executive can allocate resources it receives from the UK government as it sees fit across its devolved responsibilities, which includes housing.”
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