SFA warns of housing timebomb

THE lack of availability of affordable housing is an economic and social timebomb that will drive up wages and distort the labour market, the Small Firms Association (SFA) said yesterday.

SFA president Pat Delaney called on the Government to improve the position of first-time buyers or face the "clear and present danger" of wage inflation.

Mr Delaney said the continued increase in the cost of housing was the biggest single economic and social threat facing Irish policy makers. "Servicing of land, speedier planning, integration with transport plans and the freeing-up of already-zoned, serviced land must feature high on the government agenda," he said.