2,000 offers of social housing turned down

More than 2,000 offers of social housing were turned down last year, including in some cases due to barking dogs, the applicant being on holiday in Italy, and because no Mass had been said in the house offered.

Figures compiled from 30 of the country’s local authorities show there was 1,990 refusals of an offer of social housing last year, including a number of cases in which an applicant refused an offer at least twice.

Figures released to Fianna Fáil in September show that more than 130,000 are on social housing waiting lists across the country.