Committee for Communities

Minutes of proceedings 30 April 2026

Committee for Communities Minutes of proceedings 30 April 2026.pdf (240.97 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:         

Mr Colm Gildernew MLA (Chairperson)

Ms Cathy Mason MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Andy Allen MBE MLA

Mrs Kellie Armstrong MLA

Mr Maurice Bradley MLA (via Zoom)

Mrs Pam Cameron MLA

Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA

Mrs Sian Mulholland MLA (via Zoom)

In Attendance:      

Mrs Emer Boyle (Assembly Clerk)

Mrs Victoria Bourquin (Assistant Clerk)

Mr Chris McAfee (Clerical Supervisor)

Ms Katie Egan (Clerical Officer)

Ms Kathryn Black (Senior Assistant Clerk)

The meeting commenced in public session at 10.00 a.m.

1. Declarations of Interest

The following interests were declared:

Colm Gildernew - Member’s Bill on mitigating the threat of homelessness, Member of Public Accounts Committee, Private Sector Landlord, Charity Trustee.

Andy Allen – Trade Union Member, Staff engaged via Workable Scheme, Charity Trustee, Private Sector Landlord.

Pam Cameron – Former Junior Minister with sight of Executive and Cross Departmental policy, strategy and legislation.

Maolíosa McHugh – Charity Trustee of Naíscoil na Deirge.

2. Apologies

There were no apologies.

3. Chairperson’s Business

Maurice Bradley joined the meeting at 10.02 a.m.

The Chairperson acknowledged that the Sign Language Bill’s Final Stage took place on 28 April 2026 and that he spoke on behalf of the Committee at the Department’s celebratory event in Parliament Buildings.

Agreed: That the next steps associated with implementation of the Sign Language Bill are highlighted in the Committee’s Legacy report.

Cathy Mason joined the meeting at 10.04 a.m.

The Chairperson advised Members that he had been invited to meet Department Officials, in his capacity as Chairperson, in relation to the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy.

The Chairperson further advised Members of correspondence he had received from constituents regarding proposed changes to the Motability Scheme. The Chairperson proposed that a briefing is sought Motability in relation to the recent changes and associated impacts.  

Agreed: That a briefing from Motability is scheduled for a future meeting.

The Chairperson referenced the upcoming Irish Cup Final and wished both teams good luck. The Chairperson also congratulated Tyrone Under 20’s following their Ulster Under 20 title win and wished them well in the upcoming All Ireland Under 20 Final.

Finally, the Chairperson informed Members about an amendment to the meeting agenda order at Items 5-7, due to a request which had been received from the Department after the issue of Members’ meeting papers.

4. Draft Minutes

The Chairperson informed Members that they had been provided with a copy of draft minutes from the meeting on 23 April 2026.

Agreed:That the minutes are agreed as drafted.

5. Employment Support Scheme: Oral briefing from the Department for Communities (Previously Scheduled as Agenda Item 7)

The Chairperson welcomed the following officials to the meeting:

Ms Michelle Furphy, Director of Labour Market Policy and Delivery, Department for Communities

Ms Shauna Robinson, Head of Health and Work Support Branch, Department for Communities

A question-and-answer session followed the briefing and the main areas of discussion were:

• “Right to Try” Scheme
• Measurable Targets and Outcomes
• Transferring from Employment Support Scheme to Workable Scheme
• The role of employers
• EQIA consultation report timeline
• Impact to organisations of the reduced Local Growth Fund
• Timeframe of Workable Programme Allocation
• Unsubsidised opportunities for employment
• Ownership of the Benefit – employer or individual
• Progression of employment
• Wage subsidies         
• Communication strategy for the available schemes
• Employer responsibility
• Joint bids to support guidance to employers

Agreed: That a letter is sent to Ulster Supported Employment Limited (USEL) and Disability Action to seek their views on the scheme, including the positive and negative aspects of the Scheme.

Agreed: That agenda Items 8 & 9 are brought forward for consideration.

6. Criminal Justice Bill: Consideration of response to Committee for Justice

The Chairperson reminded Members that, at the meeting on 16 April, the Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Justice seeking views on the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill’s Call for Evidence.

The Chairperson further informed Members that it was also agreed that the Committee Secretariat were to review the Bill and draft a response for Committee consideration.

The Committee considered a Clerk’s memo which set out the draft response.

Agreed: That the response is forwarded to the Committee for Justice.

7. Matters Arising

Committee for The Executive Office - Draft Irish Language Strategy and draft Ulster Scots Strategy

Agreed: That the Irish Language Commissioner and the Commissioner for Ulster Scots are invited to brief the Committee, in individual briefing slots, at a future Committee meeting.

Minister of Finance - Guidance on the Pooling of Budgets

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Public Accounts Committee to ask whether it is reviewing cross-departmental pooling of budgets, setting out the Committee’s experience in relation to the CSCA and the PfG priorities, emphasising that a cultural shift may require mandating of budget pooling.

The Committee noted the following item:

8. Departmental quarterly update: Oral briefing from Permanent Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Corporate Service

The Chairperson reminded Members that agreed suggested topics for discussion were forwarded to the Department following the Committee Meeting on 23 April but that did not preclude Members’ from asking questions on other topics.

The Chairperson welcomed the following officials to the meeting:

Ms Grainia Long, Permanent Secretary, Department for Communities

Mr John Greer, Deputy Secretary, Corporate Services Branch, Department for Communities

A question-and-answer session followed the briefing and the main areas of discussion were:

• Homelessness Prevention Strategy
• Delay in purchasing of 600 homes for social housing
• Placenames NI project funding
• The timeline for an Irish Language Strategy
• Prioritisation decisions re the Department’s budget
• Social Inclusion Strategies within the current mandate
• Cost of Departmental legal proceedings
• Revitalisation of the NIHE estate
• Structural barriers to social housing new builds
• Intermediate housing targets
• Multi-year budget
• Public land for housing
• Single occupancy homes
• Workforce strategy and recruitment processes
• Local government role within the Anti-Poverty Strategy, dedicated funding and an action plan timeline
• Discretionary Support funding
• Benefit fraud and error
• Anti-social behaviour
• Timeframe for primary legislation
• Regional balance of Departmental employment opportunities

Andy Allen left the meeting at 11.56 a.m.

Agreed: That the Gender Equality and LGBTQIA Strategy Co-Design groups are invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department to request the following:

• Timeline for delivery of 600 social housing homes
• Timeline for the Gender & LGBTQIA strategies
• Reasons for the delay in both the Charities and Housing Bills
• Detailed information on statistics discussed re benefit fraud and error
• Whether the Department plans to introduce a dedicated budget line for the Anti-Poverty Strategy
• A briefing on strategic workforce planning
• Information on better use of existing spaces / homes

The meeting was suspended at 12.07 p.m.

The meeting resumed in open session at 12.14p.m. with the following Members present: Colm Gildernew, Cathy Mason, Kellie Armstrong, Maurice Bradley, Pam Cameron, Maolíosa McHugh and Sian Mulholland.  

9. Quarterly Financial Update: Oral briefing from the Department for Communities (Previously Scheduled as Agenda Item 5)

The Chairperson welcomed the following officials to the meeting:

Mr John Greer, Deputy Secretary, Corporate Services Branch, Department for Communities

Ms Kathy Sands, Finance Director, Department for Communities

Ms Olga Beagon, Finance Director, Department for Communities

A question-and-answer session followed the briefing and the main areas of discussion were:

• Non-ring-fenced pressures
• Ministerial prioritisation of draft budget
• Specific high risk projects
• Queen’s Parade funding and regeneration project
• Cessation or deferral of lower-priority activity
• Housing Supply Scheme
• Community & Voluntary sector funding
• Placenames NI project funding
• Funding gap for welfare delivery and financial crisis for Individuals
• Maintaining parity for welfare delivery
• Equality impact assessments
• Ministerial recommendations and decisions timeline

Pam Cameron left the meeting at 12.39 p.m.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department to request the following information:

• A breakdown of the Department for Communities contribution to all City Deal Investment Projects by area
• The options provided to the Minister regarding financial cuts to service delivery
• A list of interim funded projects for Community and Voluntary sector programmes, with particular focus on Queen’s University Belfast - Placenames NI Project
• Specific lower level detail on general capital
• Whether a review of Debt Advice Services is being considered / undertaken; and
• A definition of “Lower Priorities” and specific examples of what these are

Pam Cameron rejoined the meeting at 12.47 p.m.

10. Correspondence

Youth Assembly - Youth Assembly Involvement in Legislative Scrutiny

Agreed: That representatives from the Youth Assembly and the APG are invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting with particular focus on the Department for Communities remit.

Housing Rights - A discussion Paper to Support Homeless Prevention in Northern Ireland

Agreed: That a briefing is scheduled for a future meeting.

Equality Coalition Co-Convenors - Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy consultation report

Agreed: That a briefing with is scheduled for a future meeting.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Equality Coalition Co-Convenors to ask what communication they have had from the Department in relation to the consultation report.

Committee for Finance - Marriage Bill

Agreed: That the Committee Secretariat reviews the Bill and drafts a response for Committee consideration at a future meeting.

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) - Invite CILIP Ireland event “Libraries Deliver: Impact, Outcomes and Value for Communities” on 03 November 2026

Agreed: That the Chairperson sponsors the event in Parliament Buildings and speaks at the event on behalf of the Committee.

Cricket Ireland - Invitation Test Match Day 1 Ireland vs Zimbabwe, 27 May at Stormont Cricket Ground

Agreed: That the Chairperson attends the event on behalf of the Committee.

Pam Cameron left the meeting at 12.57 p.m.

The Committee noted the following items: 

The Committee noted the following items of tabled correspondence:

11. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted a copy of the Forward Work Programme.

The Chairperson informed Members that, due to a bank holiday on Monday 4 May, the papers for the meeting on 7 May would be circulated to Members on Friday 1 May 2026.

12. Any other business

Kellie Armstrong informed Members of a future meeting (scheduled for 2 June 2026) of the All Party Group on homelessness that the Minister for Communities is due to attend.

13. Date, time and location of the next meeting

The next meeting is at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 7 May 2026, in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.04 p.m.

Colm Gildernew MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Communities