Young mothers - The price of our sexual liberation

Naas Town councillor Darren Scully of Fine Gael has sparked controversy by suggesting some single girls are getting pregnant in order to get local authority houses.

He thinks the percentage is small but he believes they are doing so because of the current housing difficulties. Having a child out of wedlock actually enhances their chances of getting a house.

People are awarded social housing on a points system, and a single person with a small child gets preferential points. Reviewing local social housing applications, Councillor Scully noted that 118 of the 269 applicants were single females with a child.