People ‘would be willing to go on dole’ to get a council house

Some people in low-income employment would be willing to go on the dole if it meant that they qualified for a council house, a local authority meeting heard this week.

This was the view expressed by several members of Galway County Council, when it was requested that the criteria for qualifying for a local authority house be relaxed to some degree.

A motion from Cllr Shane Curley (FF) that the income threshold be changed for those applying for social housing received considerable support at the meeting on Monday.

At the moment, the maximum income threshold for a single person is €25,000 or €30,000 for a household.

Some councillors expressed concerns that those who were “in the middle of nowhere” would give up low-paid employment in order to qualify for a house.

Cllr Curley said that in order to be eligible for a Council house, the applicants had a better chance being on social welfare which was not the message that should be sent out.

His motion stated: “Galway County Council calls on the Department of Housing to review the current income thresholds of those applying for social housing.

“The cost of living has drastically increased. For many people in genuine need of social housing, the current income thresholds mean that they are ineligible for a social house.

“This means that they are living in poverty despite doing their best to hold down a low-paying jobs,” Cllr Curley added in his motion.

Speaking on foot of the motion, Cllr Curley said that to discourage people from working in order to get a house was not healthy and could not be condoned.

He was supported by Cllr Jimmy McClearn (FG) who said that there were many on low paid jobs who do not qualify for social housing and believed that the more generous criteria adopted by Galway City Council should be applied.

“It’s hard to believe but by someone giving up a low-paying job they would be financially better off and would qualify for a local authority house.

“The low income threshold that currently applies is putting those on social welfare payments in a much better position than anyone who is on low incomes which is bordering on the ridiculous,” Cllr McClearn added.

According to Cllr Dermot Connolly (SF), there is no incentive for people to get up and go to work anymore given the criteria involved in qualifying for a Council house.

“There is a section of our community who are caught in the middle of nowhere. They are in employment and cannot qualify for social housing but cannot afford a property of their own.

“A lot of them are either living with their parents or in rented accommodation which costs more than a mortgage at the moment,” the Ballinasloe councillor added.

This view was echoed by Cllr Gabe Cronnelly (Ind) who said that rents were astronomical at the moment and even those in employment could not afford them.

He believes that every application for social housing should be determined on its merits as he said that “no two cases are the same”. He added that it should be a matter for the housing department of Galway County Council to rule on.