Housing shortage a cause for concern

HOUSE prices attracted headlines in 1980 but the concern at that time was the scarcity rather than glut of available properties.

Environment Minister, Sylvester Barrett, was pushing the Government for £30 million over and above his budgetary allocation for social housing, warning that building couldn’t keep up with demand.

Demand was so high, he pointed out, that new house prices had “virtually doubled” between 1977 and 1979 and he warned of serious consequences if he didn’t get the extra allocation.