Social housing wait list report to be published next year

A report outlining the most up-to-date figures on Ireland’s social housing waiting list crisis is likely to be published in the first half of next year — just in time for the general election.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Alan Kelly confirmed the schedule, ultimately decided by the State’s independent housing agency, amid a growing political row over whether Government is “hiding the true scale” of the scandal.

On Monday, Fianna Fáil environment spokesman, Barry Cowen, claimed the Coalition is under-stating the extent of the social housing crisis by up to 45% by basing its official rates on figures which are two years out of date.