Children living in B&Bs is ‘horrendous’
WORRIES ALSO OUTLINED THE AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY
THE number of children who have been living in B&Bs for over 12 months has been described ‘horrendous’.
Cllr Lourda Scott (Green) queried the children in homeless figures in the Chief Executive’s Monthly Report for February. 73 children presented as homeless in January 2020. Of these, 33 were housed in own door accommodation, 33 in B&Bs with ten children unaccounted for in the figures. Cllr Scott said it was ‘horrendous’ that seven children had been in B&Bs for over 12 months.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council said these ten children would have been accommodated at home or with relatives. He said every support was made available and the council continued to work with people to try to prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.
In relation to social housing, Cllr Gerry Walsh (FF) mentioned a reduction in the numbers on the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Some people on RAS felt they were ‘falling through the cracks’ as they were no longer deemed to be on the housing list. He also asked about Part 5 housing in relation to the green light for new housing developments in Greystones.
Mr Curran said the numbers of people on RAS had fallen as people were moved onto the HAP scheme. People on the HAP scheme can put themselves on the list for permanent social housing. He confirmed that 10 per cent of houses in the new developments in Greystones would be made available for social housing.
Cllr Gerry O’Neill (Ind) asked for ‘urgent clarification’ on the council’s communication with Kildare County Council in relation to social housing in the Blessington area.
Mr Curran said the council had been told by Kildare County Council that they had enough social housing applicants for the 10 per cent of social housing, but they would follow this up.