The decision by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie to halt work on kitchen refurbishment's in Housing Executive properties across the north has put hundreds of jobs at risk according to Omagh councillor, Sean Begley.
Speaking after it was revealed that the minister was 'freezing' the £2.5 million kitchen scheme, Cllr Begley said that the local impact of the decision would be felt by many in the construction industry including local contractors, suppliers and manufacturers.
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He said, "Margaret Ritchie's decision to stop kitchen refurbishments to Housing Executive properties across the North appears to be a totally arbitrary decision that will have far reaching consequences. This will impact not just on the contractors but also suppliers and manufacturers.
"It seems that the minister is engaged in a vindictive point scoring exercise at the expense of the people. The Minster must realise that she must put the people before party political interests and must meet the needs of the people instead of engaging in spinning exercises.
"At a time when many people are losing their job on a daily basis we have a minister putting hundreds of jobs directly at risk.
"The minister must start delivering and stop her excuses. Her announcement that she is freezing the kitchen works programme will have devastating effect for many in the construction industry, particularly for local contractors in the run up to Christmas."
A spokesperson for Mr Ritchie's department, DSD, said, "The Minister shares the Housing Executive's concern.
A shortfall of £30 million so late in the year will obviously have serious consequences for the rest of the housing programme this year. She has asked for an urgent assessment of what elements of the housing programme can be saved and expects details of this to be announced in the new year. The shortfall in the budget has come about because the Minister was not allowed to re-allocate money within her own Department. The Department for Social Development identified £39 million that it wished to transfer from its own resources to address a major shortfall in the housing budget. Every penny of this money could be spent, but permission was required to re-allocate it. Permission was given to re-allocate only £9 million.
Approximately £30 million was taken by DFP and allocated to other Departments.
The result of this action means severe cuts to the housing programme as highlighted by the Housing Executive."
