Ministerial order on housing vulnerable is ‘unworkable’

A new ministerial directive on housing vulnerable people has been described as “unworkable” and will put families further down local authority waiting lists.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has instructed local authorities to ensure at least 30% of their vacant housing stock is given out to people who have disabilities, are homeless, have been victims of domestic violence, or are leaving state care.

Councillors in West Cork who discussed the directive yesterday, said they simply did not have the homes available to carry out the order and needed money from central government to refurbish vacant properties to have any chance of complying with it.