DUP deeply concerned at lives being put at risk by DSD

 

DUP MLAs Simon Hamilton and Jimmy Spratt have expressed their Party's deep concern that Police Officers who are under serious terrorist threat are being prevented from moving home under the Special Evacuated Dwellings Scheme.  Policing Board Member Jimmy Spratt and Simon Hamilton who is Chairman of the Assembly's Social Development Committee have said that DSD's actions are quite literally putting lives at risk.  Commenting, Simon Hamilton said,

"It is one thing for politicians to debate and discuss where the best place to spend the limited funds within the budget is but to use money as the excuse for putting people's lives at risk is simply unacceptable. 

Sadly, the harsh reality of life in Northern Ireland is that some people because of their work within the security forces will find their lives and those of their family put under threat by evil terrorists. The SPED scheme has always allowed those individuals to move to safety in a new home without the hassle of having to wait and worry about selling their home through the normal channels. SPED places a legal duty on the Housing Executive to purchase these dwellings and by denying the Housing Executive the funds to evacuate officers and their families, not only is the Department of Social Development in breach of a legal obligation but it is putting people in harms way. 

SPED is only ever allocated a small amount in the annual budget and any shortfall is made up via reallocations in the various monitoring rounds. The DSD's diktat that no money should be spent unless the funds are actually in place might well suit discretionary spending on, say, grants for house renovations but it sits very uncomfortably and with potentially disastrous consequences on something so serious as SPED. I am insisting that the Minister allows these SPED cases and indeed all others in the future to have the money that they need on the basis that money can and will be found in the budget as it always has been. 

I am in no doubt that this action by the Minister will elicit a legal challenge by those officers affected.  Once again, the Department of Social Development will be dragged into the courts because of the Minister’s stupid behaviour and countless thousands of taxpayer’s money will be wasted on a case that the Department cannot conceivably defend successfully."              

Jimmy Spratt added,

"It is staggering that any Minister would seek to play so fast and loose with people's lives. By preventing these SPED cases from being properly dealt with, the Minister is second guessing the Chief Constable who does not issue SPED certificates lightly. Does Margaret Ritchie know more about the terrorist threat these poor people are under than the Police? Maybe the Minister has missed the recent incident in Meigh and other escalations in the dissident republican campaign. 

The Minister must have no understanding of the stress and strain her actions are causing or else she would stop playing silly beggars and assist these officers and their families in finding a safe home. Now in their time of need is when these Police officers should be getting our full support and assistance not the cold shoulder from DSD."