The challenges faced by the housing sector in both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland has been debated at a major conference hosted by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the University of Ulster, in Newcastle, Co Down.

Ministers responsible for housing in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were keynote speakers at the event.

A number of Social Development Committee members were also in attendance, with the committee take the opportunity to hold its regular meeting during the conference.

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Sponsored by Helm Housing, the Conference, which aims to find areas of mutual housing interest across Ireland, solutions in the current housing context were debated, including ways to kick start the housing market, to prevent future volatility in the market, and to learn lessons from practice across the UK and Ireland.

Stormont Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie gave the opening address to the Conference on Thursday and her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland Minister Michael Finneran will closed the event on Friday.

Grainia Long, Director of the Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland said: "The level of interest paid to the conference and to housing by our political leaders is testament to the challenging conditions in which we now live and work, and is recognition of the central role which housing can play in contributing to the economy, to employment levels, and to the well being of communities."

(PR/JM)