Crossing Continents

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Travel

Series focusing on foreign affairs issues

BBC Radio 4 LW

Crossing Continents: Ireland's Housing Hunger

Ireland's Housing Hunger

BBC Radio 4 - Crossing Continents, Ireland's Housing Hunger

Ireland's young cannot put a roof over their heads.

The housing crisis in Ireland means many young people cannot put a roof over their heads.

Ireland’s government is in crisis mode dealing with the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But another crisis in its housing provision has long haunted the country’s young people.  Ireland has booming investment and lots of new jobs but people cannot find adequate and affordable housing.  Anger about this, and fear of mass emigration by the young are issues with deep roots in Irish memory. And the housing crisis was a crucial factor in February’s Irish election result which shocked the main parties and saw big gains for the nationalists of Sinn Fein. For Crossing Continents, Chris Bowlby travels to the city of Cork in the southwest of the country. He traces the roots of the crisis in a crazy house buying boom a few years ago. And he hears how a lack of good, affordable housing is affecting everyone from students to young families to Ireland’s many younger migrants who hope to stay in Ireland, but have nowhere to call home.

Produced and Presented by Chris Bowlby
Editor: Bridget Harney

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Crossing Continents

Ireland's Housing Hunger

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4