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The Housing Executive processed 103 grant payments during the first half of the year, according to Social Development Minister Alex Attwood.

The Minister was responding to an Assembly Question from Foyle Sinn Fin MLA Martina Anderson.

He advised the Housing Executive generally makes payments to the applicant and cannot pay contractors unless the applicant has assigned the payments directly to the contractor.

Therefore the Executive was not able to disaggregate payment performance to applicants and to contractors.

“However, during the first half of this financial year, the Housing Executive processed 103 grant payments for the Derry City Council area and the average length of time between inspection and payment was 27 calendar days,” the Minister explained.

“The Housing Executive aims to make 90 per cent of all Grants payments within 6 weeks of a request. Housing Executive staff will inspect the completed work before payment of any grant is made, normally when the major stages of work have been completed.

“The aim is to inspect works within two weeks of a request. Interim and final payment will be made when the work is deemed to be satisfactorily completed.

“The Housing Executive aims to make payments within four weeks of inspection provided that all relevant invoices, guarantees and certificates have been received.”