An Island Housing Trust has been suggested by the Islands' Federation because of the difficulties of offshore island residents in getting housing on their own islands.
While housing has become a major public issue, the problems for island communities in this regard are not getting the same attention.
"Several families have had to give up their dream of staying on their island. Property prices are prohibitive," according to the Secretary of Comhdháil Oileán na hEireann, the Islands Federation, Rhoda Twombly.
Planning permission is the chief problem, but the increasing number of holiday homes on the islands is adding to the difficulties she said on Tom MacSweeney's Maritime Ireland radio show.
Listen to the clip below from Rhoda Twombly: