Mark Durkan: 'Nonsensical and socially unjust' that cost of housing in Derry outstripped Belfast
Mark Durkan has said it made no sense that the cost of housing in Derry outstripped that of Belfast recently given the ‘significantly higher wages’ in the east of the province.
He described the situation as ‘economically nonsensical’ and ‘socially unjust’.
The Foyle MLA was referring to the most recent official Land and Property Services figures from August that showed the average price of a home in Derry/Strabane (£189,474) was more expensive than in Belfast (£184,768) in Quarter 2, 2026.
Mr. Durkan said: “It makes no sense whatsoever that the cost of housing in Derry has outstripped the cost of housing in Belfast, which has significantly higher average wages.
"It is economically nonsensical as well as socially unjust. Instead of cushioning our poorest families, the Executive's policy decisions have actively punished them. Rates have been increased across the board, with absolutely no effort made to cushion the poorest council areas and, therefore, by extension, our poorest families.”
He made the comments as he moved a motion at Stormont expressing concern that the Executive had failed to agree a Budget amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Housing stress, he said, was a major contributory factor.
“When people are priced out of buying or renting privately, the pressure transfers directly onto the social housing sector. The all-time high of 50,000 households currently languishing on the social housing waiting list stands as a permanent testament to the Executive's housing failures.
"Housing associations want to build, but they are crippled by funding shortfalls and massive infrastructure constraints,” he declared.