3 June 2025

The SDLP Leader of Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has slammed the Finance Minister's complacency over the shortfall in the social housing budget.

It comes just a day after the Communities Minister admitted to a huge shortfall in the social housing budget meaning that fewer than 1,000 social homes are likely to be started this year.

Speaking in the debate on the Executive’s main estimates, the Finance Minister implied that the public should be grateful for any social homes being built even if the number is way behind Executive targets.

John O'Dowd said in the debate "we should also welcome the fact that 1,000 homes will be built" adding that instead of focusing on the clear shortfall in meeting the Executive’s Programme for Government target of delivering nearly 6,000 homes by 2027: "let's look what at will be done. A thousand homes will be built."

He went on to dismiss concerns about the budget position of NI Water, widely held to be one of the biggest barriers to unlocking new housing.

South Belfast MLA Matthew O'Toole said:

"The Finance Minister has form for dismissing valid concerns when challenged on Executive performance, famously answering: 'what are you complaining about?' when asked about congestion in Belfast.

"It is particularly shameless for him to ask the public to be grateful to the Executive for missing its own housing target just weeks after announcing it.

"We are in the midst of a serious housing emergency, but when the Minister's own party is being relentless in challenging the Government in the South over failure to deliver homes, he is celebrating failure here.

"As usual Sinn Féin are taking people in the North for mugs while hoping no one in the South notices their performance up the road."