To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the number of social houses that are planned to be built in South Antrim in the next five years.

This issue is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

“The Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) is currently formulated on a 3-year basis. The information below is therefore provided on this basis.

In the South Antrim Parliamentary Constituency:

There have been 4 social housing completions to-date in 2024/25.

There are currently 161 social housing units under construction.

There are 189 social housing units programmed to start as part of the SHDP 2024/25 – 2026/27.

Please note that the delivery of the SHDP is subject to Budget availability. Programmed schemes can be lost or slip to future programme years for a variety of reasons e.g. relating to delays in acquiring sites and/or failure to secure Planning Approval. Additional schemes can also be added to the SHDP ‘in-year’ through the Competitive Land, Design & Build procurement route and/or the purchase of Existing Satisfactory / Off-the-Shelf properties.

The programme formulation process for the SHDP 2025/26 – 2027/28 is currently underway, and further schemes may be added in the South Antrim Parliamentary Constituency in due course, subject to Departmental/Ministerial Approval”.