Speaking during her first visit to the Village area since the Belfast Telegraph highlighted the Dickensian housing conditions, Margaret Ritchie offered her "hand of friendship, compassion and help".

The minister, who last week pledged to make regeneration of the Village a priority took a 'walk-about' tour of the area and saw first hand the deprivation in which residents like 60-year-old Jack Skillen were living.

She even detoured off her planned route to visit Mr Skillen at his Ebor Street home - which has an outside toilet, no heating and a bath in his bedroom.

Speaking outside the house she said: "I was shocked and appalled at the conditions in which Jack has been living."

The Minister called for a multi-agency approach to help Mr Skillen - and another 12 elderly residents living in similarly poor conditions.

The visit also included a walk along Moltke Street where some of the worst dereliction was visible. The Minister added: "I have no doubt that some of these houses are unfit for habitation. I accept this and my department accepts this and we are carefully examining the Housing Executive's proposals for renewal work. I am committed to ensuring that the housing problems are addressed as quickly as possible.

"We must also ensure a balance is struck between the wholesale demolition of housing, some of which is still perfectly acceptable, and retention of the essential character of the Village."

At the Windsor Women's Centre, Mrs Ritchie hosted a private meeting with residents and community representatives including members of the Greater Village Regeneration Trust, the Village Housing Focus Group and the Blackstaff Homeowners' Association.

She concluded: "There is more to reviving a community than simply providing new houses. It is important we are able to put together a regeneration strategy that includes action to revitalise the entire area, its economy and facilities. To move this forward, the Belfast Regeneration Office, part of my department, has invested almost £2m in community development and physical regeneration projects in the Village area since 2004.

"The regeneration strategy has the potential to bring real social benefits to the area. We also want it to attract significant private sector investment including commercial and retail opportunities. Senior officials from my department are working with the South West Belfast Neighbourhood Partnership, community representatives and the Housing Executive to ensure the best mix of development and regeneration for the benefit of the Village as a whole.

"The Village community has my commitment as we take this important work forward."

Tommy Wilson of the Village Housing Focus Group, who led the tour was delighted to welcome the Minister.

He said: "It is brilliant. This is my dream day to have the Minister come to the Village to see how bad it was. And she went to Jack Skillen's house.

"She was very understanding and caring and seemed to be very keen to know about the area and what is happening in the district. This is a day that the people of the Village should be proud of themselves, that the Minister has fulfilled her agreement.

"I hope from this visit today regeneration will take place and start as soon as possible."