To ask the Minister for Social Development what discussions he has had with the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the shared housing objectives under Together: Building a United Community.

As a Member of the Ministerial Panel for the Together: Building a United Community Strategy, I attended the inaugural meeting of this group on 16 December 2013. This group will meet on a quarterly basis and will set objectives and actions plans; assign resources and targets; and monitor progress to ensure Departmental policies are achieving the objectives of the Strategy, including the shared housing objectives.

Furthermore, from May to November 2013 my officials participated in a number of planning meetings with OFMdFM and other Departments to develop the proposals/objectives for the Together: Building a United Community Strategy.

In December 2013 the Good Relations Project Board, comprising officials from all Departments advancing Headline Actions under the Strategy, was established. This group will provide advice to the Ministerial Panel on the effective use of resources and questions of policy and report on delivery and performance against the range of actions and commitments within the Strategy.