‘INSUFFICIENT’ HOUSING FOR SINGLE PEOPLE AS ONE-BED UNITS CRITICISED

Allocation of social housing to single persons was a key topic of conversation at the recent Waterford Plenary Council meeting.

Metropolitan councillor Lola O’Sullivan raised the topic of one-bed housing, stating that the council appears to have ‘insufficient’ numbers of houses to cater for single people.

She noted that single people are often finding themselves on waiting lists for long periods of time.

“We seem to be building more houses for families, not that that’s a problem, but single people can find themselves getting very frustrated.

“A lot of them are of an older age group and would find themselves in difficult circumstances,” Cllr O’Sullivan said, and requested that the SPC would look into what the council can do to cater for single people.

Waterford City and County Council Director of Housing Ivan Grimes, agreed with Cllr O’Sullivan, stating that according to local authority figures, 50-60% of those on the housing list have a requirement for a one or two-bed unit.

Mr Grimes stated that the council had factored this into their Capital Delivery Programme and that currently, 40% of their delivery is aimed at one and two-bed units.

WORKSHOP

Responding to this, several councillors highlighted issues with the delivery of one-bed units, including local councillor John Pratt who spoke on the matter in previous meetings, claiming that a minimum of a two-bed unit should be provided.

West Waterford councillor, Thomas Phelan also voiced a similar opinion stating that as people get older, he believes they should be able to have a carer stay with them in the house.

Cllr Phelan also raised concerns regarding the cost, stating that two-bed builds are likely more cost-effective, and that single persons are possibly being ‘bypassed’ by families on the housing list.

“My concern would be, that people being on the list for many years, maybe ten years or more in some cases, just by being on their own, then what happens is, they’re being bypassed by families.

“A single person is a family in, and of, themselves and I don’t think they should be waiting as long as they are in some cases, and there’s possibly an argument for discrimination to be brought in that instance,” Cllr Phelan said.

It was agreed that single persons on the housing list and provision of one-bed housing units would be discussed at an upcoming workshop.