An Alliance MLA has called on the Communities Minister to announce what plans are being put in place to address the housing crisis.

MLA Patricia O’Lynn has written to the Minister for Communities over Northern Ireland's growing housing problem.

The North Antrim MLA referenced examples in her own constituency, such as Ballycastle which has seen some of the steepest increases in house prices. The average home in Causeway Coast and Glens rose 12.5 per cent in the first three months of 2022, according to the Ulster University's Quarterly House Price Index.

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She said: "We need to build more affordable housing, to ensure the most vulnerable have somewhere to live. Although, we must also factor in the effect the number of holiday properties is having on the market, which means local people are being driven out of their communities."