David J Smith and Gerald Chambers
In August 1985 the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights announced its
decision to undertake a review of the coverage and effectiveness of existing
laws and institutions in securing freedom from discrimination and furthering
equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland. The Commission invited the Policy
Studies Institute to carry out a group of studies to provide a background of
information and analysis for its review. In response to the Commission's request,
the Policy Studies Institute agreed to carry out four related studies. These
were intended to supplement the considerable body of existing writings with
up-to-date information and analysis.
This particular report is one of four that present the results of this programme of research on equality and inequality in Northern Ireland. It is a response to a request from the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights. The focus of interest of the Commission was on equal opportunities, and the focus of the report is therefore on comparing access and housing conditions between Protestant and Catholic families.
1989 ISBN 0 85374 473 4
PSI Occasional Paper 47
Contents:
1 Introduction
The four PSI studies
Background
Objectives
The concept of discrimination
Methods
Classification by religion in the CHS
Classification of public housing estates
Conduct of the research
2 Housing Patterns in the Public
and Private Sectors
Tenure Housing and segregation
Density of occupation
Structure and age of housing
Housing amenities
Troubles with the accommodation
Local facilities
Rent
3 House Conditions in the Public
Sector
Age and structure of dwellings
Housing conditions
4 Access to Public Housing
The formal properties of the allocation system
Decentralisation of the allocations system
The policy on segregation versus integration
Comparing applicants and allocations
The limited significance of points and the level of priority
A test of equality of access
The influence of points and the level of priority
The influence of household composition
Another look at points and level of priority
Waiting time
5 Conclusions
Equal access
The quality of public housing occupied by Protestants and Catholics
Segregation and integration
Implications