Disabled people near ‘bottom of pile’ for housing

Disabled people seeking council housing in Co Cork are almost ‘bottom of the pile’ in a priority list.

The county council has been urged by a wheelchair-bound councillor to amend its priority criteria for housing applicants.

Seven categories have been adopted by the council in an attempt to make it easier to prioritise those most deserving of a local authority home, but disabled people come in at sixth.

Highest priority goes to people living in dangerous buildings, followed by the homeless. In third spot, are those deemed to be in combined “unfit and overcrowded conditions” category.

One of either, will put an applicant in the 4th and 5th priority respectively.

However, those who are in need of housing on the grounds of “disability and medical” conditions are at a lowly sixth on the list.

The lowest priority (No 7) is assigned to all other applicants who have been approved for housing but who do not fall into any of the aforementioned categories.

Cllr Pat Murphy (FF), the first wheelchair-bound member of the county council, is securing backing from local public representatives of all parties for his proposal to give disabled people greater priority.

Mr Murphy, who has worked with disability organisations for the last 20 years, said it was acceptable that homeless people or those living in dangerous buildings should have the higher priority. But, he said, people with mobility difficulties, such as the disabled or infirm, should get a far higher priority than at present.

The councillor lost the use of his legs after a car crash in 1993.

Mr Murphy said a further problem was most council houses were two-storey and not conducive to people with mobility issues.

“All single-storey local authority homes should be prioritised for disabled people and the elderly,” Mr Murphy said.

He added it made economic sense, especially as people are living longer.

“If elderly people have to go into a nursing home because their property isn’t suitable for them, it’s going to cost the taxpayer a lot more,” he said.

He emphasised that people were taking up hospital beds because they did not have a suitably adapted home to move into, and this was also costing the State money.

His party colleague, Cllr Veronica Neville, echoed similar sentiments.

But she was also unhappy there was no mention on the priority listing for people who had lost their jobs and subsequently lost their homes because they could not afford to pay their mortgages.

Cllr Mary Hegarty (FG) said there was also no account given to people who had separated “and whose houses were now in negative equity”.

The chairman of the council’s Special Purposes Committee on housing policy, Cllr Dan Joe Fitzgerald (FF), agreed with Mr Murphy.

“There are issues that can’t be denied,” he said.

Cllr John A Collins (FG) said it was imperative, in the New Year, that the council reviewed the priority listing.

Mary Ryan, the council’s director of housing, said she was prepared to take onboard, all issues raised.