The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has bee slammed for failing to find a resolution to a housing maintenance backlog in Strabane.

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne said the NIHE don't appear to appreciate the seriousness of the situation.

He said: "During the past year we have seen a growing backlog in housing maintenance repairs throughout the Strabane District. This worrying trend has not only delayed necessary repairs, but also housing allocation and lengthy housing waiting times. This has presented considerable difficulties for local residents and indeed for our local NIHE staff in Strabane with little or no sign of a solution. The Housing Executive sacked its main contractor for Strabane in mid-June, following months of complaints over the backlog in outstanding repairs. In June the figure stood at 400 homes across the district awaiting repairs which has risen significantly over the summer months. 

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"My office has been inundated with calls and visits from concerned residents awaiting repairs for months. A significant number of single parents have sought our help and have subsequently been allocated houses but are unable to move in because the property is uninhabitable and awaiting maintenance work. I know a young mother of two who was allocated a house last April and has been unable to move in because works have not yet started. In another case a mother has been sleeping on a friend’s sofa since June for the same reason. These are only two of many examples outstanding and it simply isn't acceptable."

(CD/IT)