Executive's Housing Budget "Fails Northern Ireland's Most Vulnerable"

The Northern Ireland Executive is facing strong criticism for significant cuts to the social housing budget, which Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall has described as a "deliberate political choice" that will disproportionately harm the region's most vulnerable.

The Department for Communities is now reportedly unable to meet even its most basic commitments, leading to a drastic reduction in the construction of new social homes.

Councillor Kendall stated: "This is a deliberate political choice to underfund housing and abandon the most vulnerable. The Executive is failing to meet even the most basic commitments to those in desperate need of a home."

While acknowledging the Communities Minister's efforts to manage the reduced funds, Cllr Kendall stressed the need for a re-evaluation of the Executive's priorities. "Whilst I appreciate the Minister is stretching the budget as far as he can, the Executive needs to look at its priorities. Cutting support for those in desperate need is a moral failure. The Executive is failing the people who need help most," she added.

Recent reports from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland indicated that the amount available for new social homes is £100 million less than initially projected for the current financial year. This reduction is expected to result in only around 1,000 new social homes being started, against an identified need of more than 2,000. Housing bodies have repeatedly called for multi-year funding settlements and consistent investment to address the growing housing waiting list and homelessness crisis in Northern Ireland.

SDLP MLA Questions "Derisory" Sentences for Mobuoy Illegal Dumping

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has strongly criticised the sentences handed down to two men found guilty of illegal dumping at the Mobuoy site outside Derry, arguing that the punishments "hardly fit the crime" given the scale of the environmental damage and financial profit.

Paul Doherty (67), a director of Campsie Sand and Gravel Ltd, was sentenced to 12 months in custody after pleading guilty to seven waste offences. Gerry Farmer (56), a director of City Industrial Waste Ltd, received 21 months in custody after pleading guilty to three waste offences. The court heard that the combined commercial and financial benefits for both men ran to more than £40million.

Mr Durkan welcomed the fact that the case had finally been brought before the courts, but immediately questioned the severity of the sentences. "These men profited to the tune of over £40m by illegal dumping waste right beside our city's main drinking water supply," he stated. "It's clear they were only interested in their own profits and cared not one bit about the risk this posed to public health or the surrounding environment."

While acknowledging that, in environmental terms, these were "significant sentences" for an area where offenders often receive lighter penalties, Mr Durkan maintained that considering the "massive scale" of harm caused, the sentences felt "almost derisory."

The Foyle MLA highlighted the widespread impact of the illegal dumping, including delays to the vital A6 road project, which has had a knock-on effect on the North West's economy. He also pointed to the estimated clean-up bill for the site, which could reach up to £700m at a time when public finances are under severe pressure.

Mr Durkan reiterated the SDLP's call for a full public inquiry into the "scandal at Mobuoy Dump." He added, "It's fair to say the two men convicted today did not carry out these crimes alone. We also need to see progress and investment to make this site safe and remove the risk to our people and the environment."

The illegal Mobuoy dump is considered one of the largest in Europe, with over 600,000 tonnes of waste secretly buried. The site is located near the River Faughan, which supplies a significant proportion of Derry's drinking water, necessitating extensive environmental monitoring.