Rent allowance does not cover cost of properties in Cork City

Family units in cities and satellite towns are being broken up as rent allowance schemes are reportedly "falling short of the mark".

With people on housing assistance payments being priced out of the rental market in areas such as Cork City’s suburbs, some are being forced to relocate up to 100km away in west Cork and other rural areas.

According to county councillors in Cork, the problems are tearing families away from their roots, uprooting schoolchildren, and leaving many single people allegedly “sleeping in cars”.