To ask the Minister for Communities whether any assessment has been made of whether arrangements are in place to ensure that if the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol is triggered this winter, every person at risk from cold weather conditions will be able to access accommodation.

This issue is an operational matter for Northern Ireland Housing Executive, they have advised me as follows:

“In line with the approach for the past number of years, the Housing Executive intends to implement Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) arrangements over the coming autumn/winter period and there is ongoing engagement with a range of providers to ensure availability of accommodation, to meet both our statutory duties, as outlined in the Housing (NI) Order 1988 and non-statutory duties such as SWEP.

The Housing Executive recognises the valued input of the homelessness sector in facilitating a SWEP and there will be regular engagement with partner agencies across the autumn/winter period to identify and address any challenges associated with the delivery of the Protocol, at the earliest possible opportunity, to ensure our shared objective of eradicating risk for rough sleepers during periods of severe weather is achieved.”