NOTICES TO QUIT HOMES BECOMING ‘RELENTLESS’, SAYS COUNCILLOR

CLLR Dermot O’Brien raised concerns about a high volume of people being given ‘notice to quit’ their homes. He said that the council needs to put pressure on the housing department. ‘I’m feeling dis-empowered to do anything to help them,’ he said. ‘It’s relentless.’ Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pat Vance, agreed. He said that as the equity of properties goes up, landlords are selling. ‘ They feel, because of taxation, they don’t have the desire to stay in it as a business.’ He said that it’s the worst he’s ever seen. Cllr Joe Behan said that in the main, it’s people on rent allowance, being forced on the HAP scheme. ‘Many landlords are not willing,’ he said.

He said that on the one hand the government is saying the problems are being solve, and on the other making it worse. Ms Irving urged anyone in such difficulty to make contact with the council, with either the homeless office or Dublin Simon representatives. ‘Don’t leave it to the last minute,’ she said, adding ‘each case is dealt with on its merits.’ Members agreed to write to the Department of Housing to make their views known.