The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A STATEMENT from a government minister claiming a 44% reduction in Clare’s social housing waiting list since 2016 has been criticised as “spin” by a local councillor.
In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien welcomed figures published in the 2021 Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA), which show a substantial reduction in the number of households on Clare’s social housing waiting list since the first annual assessment was conducted in 2016.
The 2021 SSHA shows 1,100 households in Clare were assessed as being qualified for, and in need of, social housing support as of November 17, 2021.
This figure is down 101 (8.4%) from 1,202 households recorded on November 2 2020. This figure also represents a total decrease of 866 (44%) households since 2016 when annual recording of the SSHA began.
The minister outlined the social housing list has fallen from 1,966 in 2016 to 1,952 in 2017 and dropped to 1,004 in 2018 before increasing to 1,065 in 2019, 1,202 in 2020 and going back down to 1,100 in 2021.
He pointed out the five-year change was a reduction of 866, which equated to a 44% drop.
This was challenged by the chairman of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee, Councillor Gerry Flynn, who said the “housing accommodation crisis” was worse than it was 10 years ago.
Asked if the minister’s figures were accurate, Councillor Flynn said they were “spin”, as the statistics quoted by the council in its recent management report stated 2,777 housing units were being sought by applicants.
When this is added to those receiving the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), he believes the real figure of those requiring housing in the county is actually 4,000.
The Independent Councillor’s assessment of the real housing need in Clare is four times higher than Minister O’Brien.
HAP is paid to people who don’t own their own home and are being accommodated in the private rental sector.
“Whatever minister is in charge of housing, council officials have to dance to the tune the minister calls,” said Councillor Flynn.
“I am on the housing committee since 1999. I was having debates with council officials for years when there was no reason to do so as officials are employed by the state as civil servants.
“Council officials are answerable to whatever government minister is in charge. If the minister says jump, their job is to say how high.
“The council’s management report is reality not the minister’s figures. If people who are renting houses through HAP decided to withdraw in the morning, we would be in a lot more trouble than we are now.
“The figure for HAP was actually 1,600 and then suddenly it fell to 1,300. Where are these people gone? That doesn’t stack up for me. The housing crisis in Clare is worse than ever.”
Councillor Flynn said it looks like Clare will not secure an affordable scheme, despite proposals that urban centres with a population of more than 10,000 will qualify.
He believes, however, the prospect of Ennis getting an affordable housing scheme is very slim.
“HAP is a disaster because the cost of rent is so high it is unbelievable. There are three payments under the HAP scheme – the percentage of payment the council pays on behalf of a tenant to a landlord, the balance of the rent by the tenant, the tenant also has to pay 17% differential rent to the council. HAP is not a panacea to fix the housing crisis.”
The Shannon-based councillor recalled the council, at the request of the minister, wrote to everyone on the housing list last year and removed them if they didn’t reply.
Claiming this was a move by the minister to reduce the housing list, Councillor Flynn pointed out a lot of social housing applicants don’t have a fixed address, and are often forced to “couch surf” with friends, which results in their wrongful removal from the list.
