Fear has been expressed in Clare that the days of single-income families being able to buy their own homes have passed.
It follows a recent survey which found that almost a third of young people want to own their home, but don’t think they ever will.
Recent research from the Banking and Payments Federation shows the desire for homeownership in this country remains strong.
85 per cent of renters surveyed say they want to, or expect to buy a home, and almost a third are expecting to do so in the next five years.
Clare’s Peace Commissioner believes for many young people the dream of home ownership is slipping away from them, but is not dead in the water yet.
David Griffin, who’s also a member of Young Fianna Fáil, says the days of single-income families being able to buy their own home have passed though.
The Newmarket On Fergus native believes a way to close the gap between the average house price and average incomes needs to be found.
The Ennis Branch Secretary of the Social Democrats is calling for a move away from developer-led solutions of the Government in favour of the state building its own social and affordable housing and affordable rental housing.
Nearly two thirds of the adult population are already homeowners, but Hilary Tonge believes large numbers of older homeowners looking to downsize, but can’t, due to lack of availability.
She says if more smaller accommodation was available, it would free up family homes for young people.
You can listen to the full interview here:
