To ask the Minister for Communities what consideration is given to the proximity to schools when the Housing Executive allocates temporary accommodation to families with children.

I have sought the requested information from the Northern Ireland Housing Executives' Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

“The decision regarding the suitability of emergency temporary accommodation offered in the discharge of the homelessness duty is made in accordance with the Housing (NI) Order 1988. In determining suitability, specific Designated Officers within the Housing Executive will consider factors such as the individual circumstances and the needs of a given Applicant and will take on board any representation made on behalf of the Applicant. The consideration of individual circumstances will include proximity to schools for families with children and the Housing Executive will seek to provide a placement as close as possible to facilities such as schools.

It should be noted that while the Housing Executive will endeavour to provide a placement that as far as possible, meets the needs of the respective household, since the onset of the pandemic there has been a sustained increase in demand for temporary accommodation with the most recent published figures noting a total of 8,328 placements having been provided between 1st April 2023 and 31st December 2023. In such circumstances, any provision of temporary accommodation will be dictated by availability on a given day.”