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Thank you, Minister. I declare an interest as a first-time buyer. On a number of viewings that I have had recently, agents have talked about cash buyers coming in and, essentially, wanting to turn homes into Airbnbs, and, even when advised that that is not allowed, they seem to be continuing with that intention. Do…
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I appreciate the comments that have been made in the debate. One thing that most of us can agree on is that homeownership is a shared aspiration that resonates deeply with many of us. It represents more than just bricks and mortar. It offers security, stability and the…
As the housing crisis destroys communities across the North and wage growth stagnates, falling far behind house prices, homeownership has never been more remote for working-class communities across the North. More people are finding it impossible to get on the property ladder. They are trapped in an under-regulated…
I really welcome the chance to speak on the motion. It is on an issue that I see time and again in my constituency office: the lack of housing in general but particularly for first-time buyers, especially young people. There are two interconnected issues. First, house prices are too high — we know that — owing to a…
This critical issue further highlights the deepening housing crisis that is gripping Northern Ireland. Rising house prices, soaring rental costs and increasing mortgage pressures are making homeownership an impossible dream for too many. As a result, we are seeing greater reliance on social housing, as has been…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I may speak quite quickly, then. I think that everyone here understands that becoming a first-time buyer is expensive. It is now possibly the most expensive that it has been over the past 70 years. There are two distinct parts to measuring the affordability of becoming a first-time buyer.…
Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Whilst we all agree on the need to provide meaningful support to first-time buyers, given some of the challenges that they face, with ever-increasing house prices and rental costs, I urge huge caution over any attempt to propose the roll-out of equity based, help-to-buy schemes as a solution…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I can point to many examples of the DUP's strong record of delivery in the housing Ministry, and its actions speak louder than words. The DUP has been supportive of the co-ownership scheme. Our Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, increased the upper value limit for qualifying…
I beg to move I propose the motion and acknowledge the increasing difficulties facing first-time buyers, making what was once a common rite of passage for many an impossible dream for more. For generations before us, homeownership was seen as the foundation of security and the springboard to stable lives and a sense…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. As many colleagues have said, it is a year today since the Assembly and Executive returned. It is clear that there is absolutely nothing to celebrate, given the critical issues that face our people. Indeed, what people forget, when they talk about the return of the Assembly a…
OK, thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am on pretty safe ground today when I say that the crisis in the health service is not a new challenge that has just appeared on the horizon. It has been building for many years not just in the Province but across the UK. We have multiple debates in the Chamber about…
Thank you. Does the Minister agree that the mental health strategy cannot help to combat the mental health crisis that we are in when it is not being funded adequately?
I am aware that, before the restoration of the Executive, all the parties appeared to prioritise Health. I heard Jayne McCormack of the BBC say this morning that, in her first conversation with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, they said that if they could achieve anything and do one thing well in this…
I know; I thought that, Minister. For clarification, we both sat at Hillsborough Castle many times when Health was not just a priority for all the other parties but the priority. Will the Minister reflect on the things that the other parties have said?
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I will not hang about, then. I normally welcome debates in the House but not so much today. The tone and content were a bit disappointing. I have never, ever argued that it is all about the money. Many of the issues are the result of over a decade of Tory austerity, repeated…
It is abundantly clear that our health and social care system is in crisis. For the past decade, waiting lists for an initial outpatient appointment have risen by more than 200%, which is totally unacceptable. Our waiting lists are by far the worst on these islands. Compared with England, in the North, we wait seven…
I wish to focus my remarks on a local issue in my constituency of North Antrim, which I believe falls within the scope of the motion. In September 2024, I spoke about a mental health charity in my constituency that provides an invaluable service in crisis intervention, counselling and family support. As of today,…
Opposition parties have a crucial role in any parliamentary democracy in scrutinising policies and, when necessary, proposing alternative ones. An effective Opposition is to everyone's benefit. Unfortunately, on the 1st anniversary of the restoration of the Executive and the Assembly, the motion falls short of what I…
I thank the Opposition for tabling a motion on the most critical issue that we face: the crisis in our health service. We have just discussed how important devolution is for Northern Ireland, and the repetitive cycle of institutional collapse has had a devastating impact on our democracy and on the public's trust in…