To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the Housing Supply Strategy 2024-2039, specifically in preventing families being made homeless from the private rental sector.

Mr Lyons

I will shortly bring the first action plan for the strategy to the Executive. The plan will detail a range of actions that Departments will deliver over the first three years. We know that increasing overall supply is the most effective way to prevent homelessness and reduce pressure on the private rented sector. The actions in the strategy action plan will therefore be focused on addressing the whole-system issues that impact on supply across all tenures. The strategy included a commitment to introduce much longer notice to quit periods for tenants in the private rented sector. I launched a consultation on the secondary legislation to enable that on 5 January, and I intend to put that protection in place later in the year.

Mr Lyons

I am concerned, because that is additional financial stress on people. Many struggle to find somewhere to live, and it is incumbent on us to do everything that we can to make sure that we have homes for people in Northern Ireland who need them. Those homes need to be across all tenures. That is why I have introduced the intermediate rent scheme, using financial transactions capital to get more homes built; it is why I am pushing for the revitalisation of the Housing Executive; it is why we are using Housing Executive reserves to buy more homes, so that we push down on the temporary accommodation budget as well; and it is why we are changing the housing association rates so that we can stretch the money further and build more homes. We recognise that that is a problem in the private rented sector. It affects everybody. That is why we need to do everything that we can to build more homes.

Mr Brooks

I agree with the Member who asked the question and with the Minister's response: things are getting incredibly difficult for those in the private rented sector. What will the Minister's fuel poverty strategy do for those people?

Mr Lyons

It is important that the fuel poverty strategy help people across all tenures, not just those in housing association or Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties. Many of those who are most affected by these issues are in the private rented sector. We need to secure those interventions and help those who are impacted on most. I will make a significant announcement on that very soon.

Mr Speaker

We move on to topicals.

Mr Durkan

I know that a question for urgent oral answer has been tabled on the Minister's latest breach of the ministerial code, so I will ask about something else.