BY AILEEN MURPHY
With house prices continuing to spiral out of control in Fermanagh, one Enniskillen Councillor has called for government bodies to be proactive in helping to provide 'affordable' housing for families in the County.
The latest figures, released by the University of Ulster this week, show an average house price in Fermanagh of £202,965, an increase of a staggering 26 percent on the year. This figure also makes the county the third most expensive place to buy a house in Northern Ireland, topped only by Lisburn and Mid and South Down.
At Monday night's meeting of Fermanagh District Council, Frank Britton explained there was a Report 'The Semple Report' currently being compiled on the issue of affordable housing, and he felt the Council should make representations to this body.
"According to the Housing Executive, 16 percent of houses for sale in Fermanagh in 2004 were 'affordable', by 2006 this had fallen to less than one percent of properties here deemed as affordable. This is a very serious situation to be in," Councillor Britton suggested.
He explained the prices of houses here would have a knock on effect on other businesses in the town, such as the new acute hospital due to be built in Enniskillen, when it came to recruiting and retaining staff.
To be 'affordable', he submitted, houses in the county needed to be priced between £75,000 - £90,000, to reflect the salaries paid here. However he added: "Houses haven't been available at these prices for some time."
He said the price of land in Fermanagh was pushing the cost of houses higher, and in order to try and combat the problem, there was a need for 'surplus government land to be held in trust' and used to build accommodation which could be sold at a more 'affordable' price.
Finally Councillor Britton proposed the Council make representations to the 'Semple Review'.
The Chief Executive, Rodney Connor, explained the Council were already working on a response to the 'Semple Review' and this would be presented to Councillors at their next meeting. The proposal was supported by Sinn Fein Councillor, Bernice Swift, who said she had been 'inundated' with calls from young people trying to get their foot on the property ladder. She said prices 'have become absolutely ludicrous for young people' and said there also needed to be further consideration given to young people who had the means to build on their own land but were not permitted to do so.
