Home from Hain
I've just interviewed the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie for tomorrow's inside Politics. She talks about Ian Paisley's comments on gays and hits back at Peter Robisnon's criticism of her for voting in favour of £80 million worth of expenditure on Free Personal Care in next year's budget. She's also interesting on the topic of money for the loyalist UPRG (her basic message is "Your money or Your Guns!"). There's also an indication of forthcoming regulation of charities here which may well include the churches under its umbrella.
And of course, given it's probably the biggest topic in her in tray we talk about the need for affordable housing, against a backdrop of a new study showing house prices are 45% higher than they were 12 months ago.
The Minister wants to do something for young couples who can't get on the property laddder. Couples, perhaps, like Peter Hain's son and daughter-in-law, who, the Secretary of State revealed, are still living with their grandparents because they can't afford to buy in London.
Amongst other things, Ms Ritchie is considering what public land could be turned over for social housing. Perhaps the £85 million Hillsborough castle could be divided up into apartments and one reserved for the young Hains, should they care to quit the overcrowded metropolis and move to the new vibrant Northern Ireland the older Hain has helped to mould.
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Forget about developing a National Stadium at the Maize.Re-develop Windsor Park,Ravenhill and Casemont Park and use the land at the Maize for the construction of affordable housing for first time buyers under the auspices of The Housing Executive or some other recognised housing association.
Remember the Maize land is owned by the Government so the house prices should be affordable if the land is handed over.
Mark
More Hains coming to live in Hillsborough is good news for the town’s economy. How? I hear you ask! Well, it will mean more business for the local tanning studio and an increase in the sales of snake oil.
Bill
Carryduff