12th October 2025

Nicola Grant, the Workers Party Representative for Newry and Armagh, has sharply criticised the Stormont Executive following a report revealing the Housing Minister can only fund half the public homes required this year to meet the Programme for Government commitments.

In response to the housing section of the Programme for Government in late 2024, the Workers Party had called for the immediate establishment of a State Construction Company.

Grant stated that such a company would be crucial in tackling the housing crisis head-on, while simultaneously providing a much-needed boost to the local economy by creating well-paid, sustainable employment and apprenticeships for young people.

Grant condemned the current situation, calling the number of people registered as homeless and the families living in temporary accommodation "scandalous." 

Housing needs, she argued, must be a priority, as "homes are much more than bricks and mortar." They directly impact life chances, including access to employment opportunities, and are fundamental to mental and physical well-being and all other aspects of daily living.

The Party also previously highlighted the damaging role paramilitaries play by "dictating the geographical area in which sections of our communities live" through sectarian intimidation. Grant insisted it is time for politicians and statutory bodies to put a stop to these criminal activities, emphasising that "A house is a home not a tribal territory."

Given this latest report, the Workers Party views the Programme for Government as nothing more than an attempt to "gaslight the citizens of Northern Ireland."

Every citizen, Grant concluded, "should have the right to quality public housing that is affordable, accessible and meets their physical, emotional and recreational needs." She demanded that the Executive stop making excuses for its failures and finally prioritise the needs of those who elected them, rather than their "own tribal interests."