Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
Social Housing on the Girdwood site
Mr Copeland asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the timeframe for the progression of
each stage of the plan for social housing on the Girdwood site.
(AQW 13613/11-15)
Mr McCausland: No feasibility has yet been undertaken to identify the type and density of housing that
could be accommodated on this site. Once this is completed I will be in a better position to outline a
timeframe for progress and will be happy to respond to the member at that time.
Former Girdwood Barracks Site in North Belfast: Social Housing
Mr Durkan asked the Minister for Social Development for an update on the number of social houses
planned for the Girdwood site, North Belfast.
(AQW 13646/11-15)
Mr McCausland: No feasibility has yet been undertaken to identify the type of housing or density that
could be accommodated on this site.
Once that work has been undertaken I would be happy to advise the member accordingly.
Publically Funded Jobs in the Voluntary Sector
Mr Durkan asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the procedures followed by his
Department when monitoring publicly funded jobs in the voluntary and community sectors.
(AQW 13647/11-15)
Mr McCausland: The Department for Social Development does not directly fund jobs in the voluntary
and community sector. It does however provide funding to voluntary and community groups for the
employment of individuals to deliver agreed outputs/outcomes. As the Department is not the employer,
responsibility for monitoring the individual employed rests with the relevant voluntary and community
group.
Payment of Benefits to Claimants who use the Ulster Bank
Mr McGlone asked the Minister for Social Development what alternative arrangements have been
considered for the payment of benefits to claimants who use the Ulster Bank, until normal service at
the bank is resumed.
(AQW 13657/11-15)
Mr McCausland: The Social Security Agency has fully discharged its responsibility by ensuring
that benefit payments have been lodged to customers’ designated bank accounts. It is therefore
inappropriate to make replacement payments. Agency officials continue to liaise with the Ulster Bank to
ensure, where necessary, validation of entitlement to benefit is confirmed thereby enabling the Bank to
make the necessary payment.
Social Housing on the Girdwood site
Mr Humphrey asked the Minister for Social Development, in relation to the plan for social housing on
the Girdwood site, to detail (i) what instructions his Department gave to Apex Housing Association and
when; (ii) who prepared the plan for Apex and when they were commissioned to prepare it; (iii) what
instructions they were given; (iv) the cost of preparing the plan and who met the cost; (v) when the plan
was completed and given to his Department; (vi) whether a planning application was submitted; (vii)
whether an Equality Impact Assessment was carried out in relation to the plan; and (viii) whether the
plan mirrors the original vision.
(AQW 13690/11-15)
Mr McCausland: Apex Procurement Group were appointed by the NIHE on 8 July 2010 to bring forward
a scheme for the Girdwood site that would deliver social housing in 2 phases; the first for 100 homes
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