Two people in their 90s among 800 on waiting list for one-bed apartment in Kerry

One of the people in their 90s has been on the waiting list for twenty years 

Two people in their 90s and twelve people over the age of 80 are among over 800 people on the housing waiting list for a one-bedroom apartment in the Killarney Municipal District currently.

One of the people in their 90s has been on the list for twenty years — but is receiving housing assistance payment towards the rent and is happy in their private rented accommodation, a meeting of Killarney Municipal District heard.

The meeting heard how families are being looked after in Killarney and the wider areas but single people — and those aged over 40 — make up the vast majority now on the social housing waiting list across all of Kerry.

The figures giving the age breakdown of those waiting for one-bedroom units were released on request by Labour councillor Marie Moloney.

“It is absolutely scandalous people in their 90s are waiting for housing. What are ye waiting for? Their centenary?” she asked council management.

The biggest cohort now awaiting housing are single people. Families have been prioritised by the housing bodies but the older age groups had been neglected, the councillor said.

'Very unfair'

She urged the council to look after the over-40 cohort who, because of house prices in Killarney, will never be able to purchase their own home.

“We need to look after this cohort of people. It’s very unfair they will never ever be able to afford their own accommodation. For the name of God please look after the older age group before they depart this life," Ms Moloney said.

She was joined by Cllr Brendan Cronin who said single people have gone “10, 12, 14 years” on the list and have never been offered a unit.

In total, there were 836 on the list for single apartments representing the biggest, by far, cohort waiting for housing now in Killarney.

Director of Housing Ger O’Brien said the demand for one-bedroom apartments is replicated across all five Municipal Districts in Kerry. The council building programme focused on family units but now had to address the single person need.

“The figures tell the story. One and two-beds will have to be prioritised,” Mr O’Brien said.

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When it emerged that in Killarney two people waiting are in their 90s, he investigated the matter and one of the people had been on the list for twenty years. However, the person had been approached by the council a number of times. The person was happy in the private accommodation. He was in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) from the council.

To qualify for HAP people have to be on the housing waiting list, he explained.

The second person in their 90s had been on the list for three years since their partner passed.