Overcrowding is a huge concern as some families living in box rooms

FAMILIES of three and four living in a single box room in their parents house; parents sleeping on sofas every night so that their children can have a bed. These are just some of the instances that Sinn Féin councillor Tom Forde regularly comes across.

While Wexford County Council’s statistics state that there are currently 209 approved social housing applicants currently living in accommodation classed as “overcrowded”.

However, Cllr Forde feels that the actual figure would be much, much larger.

“It’s the biggest thing I’m coming across for the past while,” he said. “I think the real figure would actually be much, much greater than the 209 recorded.

“I spoke to one girl this week who has moved back into a single room in her parents’ house with her three children. This type of thing is commonplace now.”

Cllr Forde said that Wexford County Council’s overcrowding figures don’ t include those living in cramped quarters in rented accommodation who are in receipt of HAP ( Housing Assistance Payment) from the local authority.

The Sinn Féin councillor says that the reason for this is because if the tenant declares that they are in an overcrowded HAP property or the local authority finds out, their payment will be cut.

In a response from the housing section, Cllr Forde was told: “There may be incidences of it ( overcrowding) in the HAP community that we are not aware of – i. e. have not been declared for HAP. We would withdraw HAP if we became aware of it.”

Cllr Forde believes that the detrimental impact overcrowding can have on a family, and particularly on children, is not given the significance it deserves.

“These situations have a huge impact on the family unit,” he said. “They are detrimental to the mental health of everyone involved. It’s not healthy for an entire family to share one room like that.

“You’d expect it in the tenements years ago, but not in Ireland in 2024.”