THOUSANDS TO BE RE ASSESSED ON GALWAY SOCIAL HOUSING LIST

Date Published: 27-Jun-2011

New Government legislation on social housing has come under fire at this afternoon’s meeting of Galway county council.

The new legislation means that over three thousand applicants who have already been approved for social housing by Galway county council must now be re-assessed.

It’s expected that under the new criteria, some of those previously approved will not now qualify for housing support, and rent supplement may be withdrawn.

The new threshold for a household in the county is a net income of €30,000, and income from all over 18s will be included.

Certain benefits such as carers allowance, child benefit and FÁS scheme payments will be excluded from the assessment.

Councillor Bridie Willers, a member of the county housing SPC, says this new legislation is simply unrealistic.