Addressing the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Association (NIFHA) conference delegates in L'Derry, Housing Minister Nelson McCausland is urging Northern Ireland Housing Associations to make a difference with every house built.

Minister McCausland said: "The Northern Ireland Executive and Housing Associations have this year provided homes for families from Rathlin to Enniskillen, an investment of £197 million across Northern Ireland.

"I want to see the building of communities at the core of these organisations as we move into a new phase for housing. We need to move towards a community based approach and away from one which is housing alone, and I will be looking to the sector to take on a greater role with increased responsibilities."

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Turning to investment levels to date in social housing, the Minister said: "We are well advanced on reaching the Programme for Government target of 8,000 new social homes and affordable homes by 2015. The sector needs much greater community engagement and tackle wider issues such as dereliction and anti social behaviour.

"I want to see the local housing association movement help create diverse thriving communities; places where people want to, and more than that, are actually proud to live.

"I have seen housing associations in Liverpool and Manchester that have done just that. Creativity and innovation demonstrated by these housing associations show what can be achieved in how they source finance and subsequently create local jobs, regenerate derelict areas and improve the health and well-being of local people.

"It is for this reason that as part of my Housing Strategy, I am challenging the Housing Association movement to not only deliver much needed social and affordable homes, but become lead players in initiatives such as tackling empty homes and housing led regeneration."

(CD/JP)