HSE under fire for helping notorious families to relocate

UP TO 2,000 houses are being rented in Limerick to families whose rents are being paid for by the Health Service Executive.

There is mounting concern that some of the most troublesome families in Southill and Moyross were cranking up their anti social behaviour knowing if they get evicted they will be able to move into better housing with money given out under the HSE rent subsidy scheme.

Resident associations and local politicians have hit out at the HSE for giving taxpayers’ money to help some notorious families relocate.

However, the HSE say their hands are tied.

Eddie Murphy, HSE superintendent welfare officer in the Mid West, told a meeting of Limerick City Council’s housing committee: “Nothing can be done once they fill in the criteria, even if they have an anti-social behaviour order. If they have been given exclusion orders, we would be very slow to grant rent allowance. But then we carry the can if they end up living on the street.”

Mr Murphy said tenants source the accommodation themselves.

He said: “Once they have filled the criteria for rent allowance and the landlord agrees to rent the property, we have no power. If we don’t provide them with financial aid, we will be up in front of the Ombudsman.”

Mr Murphy said that under the Childcare Act, the HSE has a statutory obligation to provide shelter to children.

Cllr Lilly Wallace complained that the HSE does not monitor the people they give rent subsidies to.

She said: “Nobody checks to see who’s living in these houses. Tenants have a free run once they’re in.”

Mr Murphy said that while visits were made to homes at least every six months, it was difficult to prove if tenants were being untruthful about how many people were living in a house.

He said: “We check all the homes that receive rent allowance, but our work finishes at 5pm and it’s difficult to prove if someone is living in a house or just paying a visit.”