Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes were damaged as a result of the terrorist bomb explosion at Newtownbreda on Wednesday 23 September; which public services were present in Belvoir estate on Thursday 24 September to assist those who had suffered damages; what arrangements have been made to either rehouse house owners or repair the homes of house owners; and if he will arrange for immediate interim compensation payments to those who have experienced loss as a result of this bomb.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe number of homes damaged at Newtownbreda is estimated to be 1,002 of which approximately 10 per cent. were seriously damaged, 40 per cent. were moderately damaged and 50 per cent. suffered minor damage.
Officials from the following public services were present on 24 September:
- 1. The Compensation Agency
- 2. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive
- 3. The Social Security Agency
- 4. The Eastern Health and Social Services Board
- 5. The South-Eastern Education and Library Board
- 6. The Royal Ulster Constabulary
- 7. Castlereagh Borough Council
- 8. Northern Ireland Fire Authority
- 9. The Department of the Environment.
In addition, 500 meals were provided by Purdysburn and Belvoir Park hospitals on 24 September.
Twenty-four houseowners were rendered homeless as a result of the explosion; three of these have been found temporary accommodation in the Belvoir/Cregagh area, and 11 have been allocated mobile homes sited in the area until such times as the repairs to their own homes are completed. The remaining houseowners have made their own arrangements. Eighteen families in Housing Executive properties were similarly affected and have either made their own arrangements or been found alternative accommodation by the executive.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive carried out first-aid repairs to approximately 300 owner-occupied houses and to 574 of its own houses. The executive is currently carrying out permanent repairs to its own houses and estimates that all its houses will have been repaired by Christmas. In addition, the executive has been authorised to carry out permanent repairs to private houses, under the special arrangements announced by the Secretary of State, if requested by the owners.
Following the explosion, the Compensation Agency had an incident team of eight people together with a team of 18 loss adjusters working on site by midday on 24 September. The agency has manned an information point in Belvoir activity centre until 15 October and loss adjusters remain on site to assist the public in furthering their claims. As at 14 October 890 notifications to claim compensation have been received and the agency has advanced £30,714 as interim payments. Everything possible continues to be done to ensure that interim payments are made speedily to those in need.