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12 January 2017

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‘Bedroom Tax’ will not be introduced in North – despite claims by the DUP, says Sinn Féin

THE “BEDROOM TAX” will not be introduced in the North, despite claims by the DUP, Sinn Féin Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir insists.

The controversial tax, introduced in Britain by the Tory British Government, would cut the amount of benefit those in receipt of Housing Benefit if they have ‘unused’ bedrooms in their house.

Under the Fresh Start Agreement – at the insistence of Sinn Féin – the Executive blocked the introduction of the Bedroom Tax in the North and agreed a package of mitigation payments.

DUP Communities Minister Paul Givan – under pressure because of his party’s handling of the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal as well as his own funding of unionist marching bands while cutting the Líofa Irish-language funding for disadvantaged communities – has been scaremongering about the Bedroom Tax to deflect attention.

The DUP minister has repeatedly threatened on TV and radio that there would be no alternative to the introduction of the controversial Tory tax in the absence of a functioning Executive at Stormont.

Sinn Féin Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has moved quickly to rubbish the DUP minister’s claim, stating that his department has the legislative authority to continue the mitigation payments.

John O'Dowd

Following Paul Givan’s early claims, Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd (pictured) contacted Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, who confirmed that payments would continue.

John O’Dowd said:

“Communities Minister Paul Givan is either incompetent or engaged in a process of misleading the public and the media.

“The Finance Minister has assured me that the DUP Communities Minister is wholly wrong in his assessment of the situation.

“He made clear that the 2016 Budget Act, which was approved by the Assembly, provides legislative authority to make Bedroom Tax mitigation payments. This will cover any expenditure up until March 2017. After that point, Section 59 of the 1998 (NI) Act can be used to ensure payments continue.”

Bedroom Tax Stormont Dept Finance letter Jan 2016

John O’Dowd added:

“Paul Givan should invest more time in working to protect the most needy in society instead of working to take an educational opportunity away from Irish speaking children.”

* On Thursday, it was announced that DUP Communities Minister Paul Givan had reversed his axing of the Líofa bursary.

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