Minister Department for Social Development

Margaret Ritchie is an SDLP Assembly Member for South Down. She was appointed Minister for Social Development on 8^th of May 2007 and is the sole SDLP member of the new Northern Ireland Executive. Her Ministerial portfolio includes responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, community development, Child Support and the Social Security Agency..

Since taking up office in May 2007, Minister Ritchie has refocused attention on social and affordable housing. She launched the New Housing Agenda in February 2008 – an unprecedented series of initiatives and programmes aimed at tackling homelessness and providing much needed social and affordable housing, as well as helping people to reach the first step of the housing ladder in Northern Ireland.

Margaret Ritchie’s political career began in 1985 when she was elected to Down District Council representing the Rowallene Area. Later she was appointed Parliamentary Assistant and Political Researcher to the MP for South Down, Eddie McGrady, and she was subsequently elected to Down District Council in successive elections 1985 and to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2003 and again in 2007.

Margaret Ritchie’s love of South Down is well known and she is an active lobbyist for a wide range of causes in the area. She is also committed to building a shared future in Northern Ireland and this theme permeates all aspects of her political life, from local councillor, to MLA, to Minister.