ONLY three out of 166 social houses currently being built in the Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency will are here in the county, it has been revealed.
A total of 163 of the current and planned builds are in the Dungannon area, taking in Castlecaufield and Moy, while only three were in Fermanagh, specifically at Crevenish Road in Kesh, which are due to be completed between 2017-2018.
The figures were revealed following a question to the Assembly by MLA Richie McPhillips, who said they caused him concern that Fermanagh was “loosing out.”
“Areas like Irvinestown and others in the Erne North DEA side of the constituency are facing unprecedented demand for housing yet little to nothing is being done to tackle this,” said Mr McPhillips.
“Every week, people approach my constituency office to complain about their long wait for access to housing, some are living with family or in other unsuitable conditions with young children or older parents.
“It’s important that the Minister for Communities actively targets the Fermanagh area in the future and I will be raising this with him next week in the Assembly.”
A spokesman for the Housing Executive said, however, more new builds in Fermanagh may be added to the list in the new year.
“Each year the Housing Executive undertakes housing needs assessment across Northern Ireland,” they explained. “The purpose of this housing need assessment is to examine supply and demand; identify where gaps exist and to project where housing is required over a five year period.
“This assessment is used to formulate the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) and to inform the Commissioning Prospectus which directs housing associations in their search for sites. The Housing Executive actively works with housing associations to bring forward development sites in areas where housing need has been identified.
“A new draft Social Housing Development Programme is currently being formulated and further schemes may be added for the Fermanagh & South Tyrone Parliamentary Constituency.
“It is anticipated that, subject to departmental and ministerial approval, the new SHDP will be published early in the new year.”
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