Half of those on Galway housing list have already rejected a home

Almost half of the 3,500 applicants on the county’s housing list have already turned down the Council’s offer of a new home.

Some have refused more than one offer – and that led to a proposal at this week’s meeting of Galway County Council that those on the list who refuse two houses should either be struck off the list or relegated to the bottom.

Councillors were told that there are almost 3,500 on the housing waiting list – but they were also assured that none of those applicants were actually homeless.

Director of Services for Housing Peter Gavican informed shocked members of Galway County Council that there was a 48% refusal rate for houses that were offered to those on the housing waiting list.

Mr Gavican was giving members a report on social housing and outlined a building programme of 92 dwellings with the vast majority located in Tuam.

But some councillors were outraged over the fact that so many had refused housing on several occasions until the most acceptable offer was made to them.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.