Brady calls on Minister to spread budget across all aspects of housing

Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady has called on the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, to go “back to the drawing board” with regards to her proposed 2009/2010 budget.

 Mr Brady, who is a DSD Committe member, accused the Minister of “putting all her eggs in one basket” and says many small building firms will collapse and hundreds of jobs will be lost as a result.

“The Minister has said that all replacement schemes and maintenance schemes will be hit hard as she concentrates on new build,” Mr Brady said.  “Many small building firms will go to the wall and hundreds will lose their jobs if the minister goes down this path.”

At this week’s Social Development Committee meeting Mr Brady asked the Minister to spread the budget across all aspects of housing.

“To discontinue kitchen and other replacements, as well as aspects of maintenance only costs more in the long run, homes will deteriorate if not dealt with and will cost more in the longer term,” Mr Brady said.

“People have been expecting these essential upgrades for some time now but with this decision they have once again been let down by the Minister,” he added.

“Small builders who rely on this work for employment will be greatly affected by this decision.  For the second time in months, I have suggested that she use land which is situated in areas of high housing demand to build new houses,” Mr Brady continued. “This can cut in half the unit price of new build if given to housing associations. Up until now all we have been told is that this Sinn Féin proposal is being looked at.”