THE SDLP is to seek Assembly backing for a review of the Stormont Executive’s budget and programme for government.
A motion will be tabled within the next two weeks seeking a rethink of spending priorities to tackle the economic downturn.
Party sources said yesterday an extra £10 million (just over €11,000) had been reallocated from Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie’s department and allocated to the Housing Executive.
The move follows discussions with Finance Minister Nigel Dodds. A letter from Mr Dodds to the SDLP Minister backing the move and seen by The Irish Times acknowledges that the economic downturn is having a “materially disproportionate and undesirable impact on the local construction industry”.
She wants further funds, flowing from a rethink of budget strategy, which will address chronic housing need and help the local economy by boosting small construction companies.
“The best way to pump prime the economy, which is heavily dependent on small firms, is to give funds to the [Ms Ritchie’s] department to build social housing,” a source said.
The party will be calling for a “re-prioritising” of Executive budget and legislative aims. It voted against the budget last year although Ms Ritchie, obliged by the ministerial code, supported it.
The source warned that more than £80 million will be needed to build social housing next year and a similar sum the year after.
In a statement, North Belfast Assembly member Alban Maginness said: “A year ago the SDLP Assembly team voted against a flawed programme for government and budget because we believed this was not the best possible allocation of resources.
“As the economy slumped we believe we have been proved correct.” He said Ms Ritchie identified over £30 million from within her own budget which could have been used to create or sustain many jobs in the construction industry in addition to addressing pressing housing need.
“However, this opportunity was snatched away from her in a piece of political opportunism in the Executive,” he said. “But opportunistic point-scoring will do nothing to help the homeless and those in housing stress. The only real solution is to provide adequate resources for housing.”