LIMERICK City and County Council is to contact Environment Minister Alan Kelly, to request a review on rent supplement caps in Limerick after it heard that families are unable to find properties, even at the maximum rates.
Sinn Féin councillor Malachy McCreesh, who tabled the motion calling on the council to ask for the review, said that “unrealistic rates are causing a real housing crisis and forcing many people including families into homelessness”.
“There are simply no properties to rent at the limits allowed. For instance a single person is only allowed a maximum of €375 per month, a couple with two children are allowed a rent supplement of €550. There are no properties available to rent in Limerick for these rates.
“A recent survey has shown that rents in Limerick have increased over six per cent in 2014 whilst the rent caps remain the same,” added the Limerick West councillor.
His party colleague, Séighin Ó Ceallaigh, remarked: “Young people’s social welfare has been cut to €100 a week, they can’t get rent allowance, and won’t be able to afford a 20 per cent deposit to buy a home, so where are they supposed to live?
“Well, it seems that this government are pushing them to live in Australia or Canada, because the government know that many young people simply can’t afford to stay in Ireland.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Kieran O’Hanlon told Monday’s meeting of the Metropolitan District that people he has taken to meet with housing officials “are quite demoralised because there’s little or no hope for somebody looking for housing”.
He added: “We need a presentation from the housing department. We need to know how many people are on the waiting lists, and a breakdown of the categories, how long they’ve been on the list, and what reasonable chance have they got of getting a home?”
His party colleague James Collins remarked: “Regardless of the market conditions, we’ve got to deal with it. If rents are rising it’s up to us to come up with a scheme that will provide housing to those in need.
“We need to ensure the officials tell us what challenges they’re having with the HAP scheme or social housing in general, and if it’s in our power, hopefully we might be able to do something about it.”
Council members also agreed that representatives from the housing department would attend the next meeting of the Metropolitan District to focus on issues relating to social housing and derelict sites.
