To ask the Minister for Communities whether the Housing Executive has a responsibility to adequately train its housing advisors to better understand and work with people experiencing issues such as addiction, poor mental health, domestic abuse, elder abuse, homelessness and other issues relevant to housing and homelessness.

This issue is an operational matter for the Housing Executive. I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows.

“Upon recruitment, all Housing Advisors are provided with 15 days of functional induction training, with this training covering a breadth of issues ranging from NIHE’s statutory duties in respect of housing and homelessness assistance, to the ability to provide support to vulnerable households presenting for assistance.

The functional induction training programme for Housing Advisors is designed to provide NIHE staff with a basis of the key skills and knowledge required to carry out their role to best meet the needs of customers at the time of presentation to the Housing Executive.”

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive directly. Making direct contact with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.