South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ó Donnghaile brings housing lobby to France

Published: 18 May, 2007

East Belfast Sinn Féin representative Niall Ó Donnghaile, upon returning from a fact-finding trip to Glenoblé and Chambéry in France, has said that Sinn Féin is committed to working to ensure that the needs of the local community are taken on board when plans for the regeneration of the vacant land at the Sirocco works are drawn up.


Mr Ó Donnghaile said,

"Last December I welcomed the news that the formal transfer of the land at the former Sirocco works site had taken place and expressed my opinion that the dire need for social housing in this area be taken on board when any development plans were being formulated.


"As part of my ongoing contacts with the new site owners, the Carvill Group, I, along with other community representatives from East Belfast took part in a study group delegation in France along with the Carvill Group.


"I once again reiterated our party position that, as the St Matthew's Housing Association survey has shown, there is a chronic housing shortage in this area. I firmly believe that social housing should have a place within any new development. Our Party position has made clear that we are committed to seeing 30% of any new build developments being earmarked for social housing. East Belfast in general, and Ballymacarret in particular, ranks among the most socially and economically deprived areas in the Six Counties. A useful first step in dealing with this would be to begin to tackle the housing shortage in the area".

CRÍOCH