9,000 on city’s social housing waiting list

CORK city’s social housing crisis was branded a “scandal” last night after it emerged that the number of people on its waiting list has soared over the 9,000 mark for the first time.

And there appears to be no hope for those waiting after confirmation of a 90% cut in the Government’s housing construction grant to the city council — from €55 million in 2009 to just €5m this year.

A report presented to city councillors shows that as of May 31, there were 8,860 eligible applicants on the city’s social housing waiting list, with a further 174 people awaiting assessment — a combined total of 9,034. Of those: