Budget analysis and Housing in Northern Ireland
Prof Rory O’Connell (Ulster), Mr Eoin Rooney, Prof Colin Harvey (QUB) and Prof Aoife Nolan (Nottingham, ex QUB)
This presentation discusses the findings of multidisciplinary research, to develop an approach to budget analysis, as applied to housing in Northern Ireland. The research is based upon a robust methodology incorporating economic analysis and legal principles, following an examination of efforts at budget analysis in case studies across the globe. The framework is then applied to a concrete case study on housing in Northern Ireland, which considers the practical implications of the system for funding for social housing, with its reliance on housing associations. The degree of transparency in the housing institutions is considered and the research also addresses the role of the private rented sector (PRS), and use of housing benefit in the PRS. Budget analysis work has also been taken up by public sector bodies (NI Human Rights Commission, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People). This presentation explains how the approach undertaken is relevant to the work of Assembly committees when scrutinising the Executive.
