McGinn asks NIHE to redirect funds to home security measures

Newry and Mourne Sinn Féin Councillor Pat McGinn has contacted the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Dr John McPeake, asking him to consider redirecting potential lost under-spend monies into restoring Home Security Measure Grants. The Fews area Councillor, who represents Newry and Mourne Council on the NI Housing Council explained to Newry Times, “The recent robbery of two elderly brothers in Lurganare highlighted the need for the restoration of such grant aid. The Housing Executive had provided such assistance for Home Security Measures to owner occupiers and private tenants but unfortunately due to insufficient funds schemes like the “Lock Up Scheme” ceased.”

McGinn continued, “The Housing Executive can only now do such work if an applicant is found to have “special circumstances” and in August 2010 I received a communication from NIHE informing me that the Murtagh brothers had been turned down for a grant by the Exceptional Circumstances Committee. At recent meetings of the Housing Council those of us present were informed that there will be several million pounds returned from the Housing Executive Budget as they cannot spend it by the end of the financial year. I believe that the restoration of such schemes as “The Lock Up Scheme” could be an appropriate and very practical way of ensuring that monies can still be spent by NIHE.”

“It would be of great benefit to many of our elderly and vulnerable residents. I have contacted Dr McPeake the Chief Executive of NIHE to ask him to investigate my proposal as a matter of urgency.The Housing Executive had provided such assistance for Home Security Measures to owner occupiers and private tenants but unfortunately due to insufficient funds schemes like the “Lock Up Scheme” ceased,” he added.

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Posted by Newry Times News on Mar 4 2012. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry