A roof of one's own

Robin Sheeran The Politics Show Northern Ireland

Sign up for the Northern Ireland Newsletter

How will a framework for affordable housing be built in the future?

You can read some of your comments on the programme here...

Last year's tornado-like spiral in property prices here has led to anxiety of a corresponding crash. But it has also raised serious concerns about the availability of affordable housing for first-time buyers.

The statistics are staggering.

In the Craigavon/Armagh area alone, the average price of semi-detached house rose by 67% in 12 months.

As the DUP MLA, Jim Shannon, put it in the Assembly's recent debate on affordable housing: "Sim'thing hes tae bae done aboot this an' done richt noo."

The question remains the same - whether in English or Ulster-Scots - something has to be done, but what?

Affordable housing was a pre-requisite to planning in the south

Mr Shannon's motion called on the Minister for Social Development to work with the Housing Executive, housing associations and other bodies to set aside land for new building projects.

This was a private members' debate, effectively an opportunity for MLAs to let off steam and not binding on the Minister, Margaret Ritchie.

Cross border similarities

This week on Politics Show from Northern Ireland, Rosy Billingham reports on the strategy adopted by the Dublin government when faced with a similar problem in the Republic.

When developers across the border apply for planning permission for a new housing estate they can be forced to provide a certain number of affordable houses.

People who want to buy a home, but would need to pay more than 35% of their net income to cover the mortgage, can apply to join their the local council's Affordable Housing List.

Rosy travels to County Louth to see the scheme in action.

Will the Republic's experiences be the pointing in the bricks of affordable housing?

Of course, there is no guarantee that an affordable house will be available for every person on the List.

And it could be argued that the scheme is a way for the government to avoid investing in social housing.

Politics Show

Be sure to join presenter Jim Fitzpatrick for Politics Show from Northern Ireland - Sunday 01 July 2007 at 12:00 BST on BBC One.

You get a second chance to see the programme again that night, at 22:55 BST on BBC One.

Let us know what you think.

---