Reform and investment package windfall for DSD

The Department of Social Development (DSD) has revealed how it plans to dispose of its £559.4 million allocation from yesterday's budget, and the lion's share – around £506 million – will go to housing and delivery of social security services.

Combined with the remaining £51.9 million – which is targeted at improving the physical and social needs of deprived communities – NIO Minister Des Browne said the investment will be used to support "many of the most vulnerable members of society and to tackle disadvantage and poverty wherever it exists".

The budget allocations provide the department with total resources of £559.4 million in 2003/04 (excluding EU Peace programmes), a rise of 2% over those for 2002/03. Resources would subsequently rise to £587.3 million in 2004/05 and £622.3 million in 2005/06.

The department said that a total of £223.7 million in 2003/04 will be allocated to the social security and child support agencies to deliver benefits in parity with the rest of the UK.

According to the government, support to improve housing conditions will be made through an allocation in 2003/04 of £283.8 million which, together with revenue raised by the NIHE, will result in a total of £643 million being made available.

Mr Browne said that the funding will allow progress on:

• the introduction of the new Supporting People arrangements from April 1 2003
• alleviation of fuel poverty in the private sector through an additional £4.3 million per year
• replacement in 2003/04 of 3,500 heating systems, including an additional 2,000 inefficient Economy 7 heating systems in the homes of young families and elderly people, aided by £5.5 million from the Strategic Investment Programme and a £2 million budget allocation
provision of £5 million in 2003/04 and £1 million per year from 2004/05 to provide dedicated accommodation to meet the needs of the homeless
support of £51.9 million in 2003/04 for urban regeneration and community development, targeting the physical and social needs of neighbourhoods and addressing areas of weak community infrastructure to support the development of deprived communities.

Welcoming the package, Mr Browne said: “The money will be used to deliver a comprehensive range of benefits to people who need them and to continue to invest in a massive programme of reforming the way those benefits are delivered, making services more relevant and accessible. It also represents a continuing investment in the quality of social housing in Northern Ireland, with new money being allocated to deal with the problem of fuel poverty."

(GMcG)