Pair clash over exclusion of youths living at home from housing lists
Wednesday March 10 2010
YOUNG PEOPLE living at home are being excluded from council housing lists. The recently introduced cost saving policy prompted a shouting match between Wexford district councillors Padge Reck (Ind.) and George Lawlor (Lab.) at Monday's meeting of the county council.
The issue was raised by Cllr. Reck who passed on complaints that young people were being refused the opportunity to apply for local authority housing. He suggested that there was pressure from 21-23 year olds on the issue and observed that some people are impossible to live with.
He knew of instances where a 'young fella' was living at home and taking half the pension as well as whatever he was receiving in his own right. He felt that such people should not be living in the family home. The meeting was reminded that unless they were on the council list, they were not entitled to rent subsidy.
Housing director Tony Larkin confirmed that a stricter line has been adopted.
He said that an 18 year old, for example, who had a room in his/her parents' house was not now normally considered to be in need and are not put on the list. He said it was no longer possible to consider providing an apartment for everyone at the State's expense.
The director suggested that young people could consider house sharing, as people of his generation had done.
But Cllr. Reck responded that 18 year olds are adults and all adults should be treated equally. He called the change of policy disgraceful.
George Lawlor weighed in with an observation that everyone was being treated fairly by housing officials.
He observed that bad behaviour at home by young adults should not be rewarded with subsidised housing at State expense. Then the discussion degenerated into abuse.
'We've had enough of you, Cllr. Reck,' he thundered.
The man from Mulgannon countered loudly: 'Go back to your Fianna Fáil roots. It's a red flag job.'
Cllr. Reck insisted that it was wrong that applicants were being turned away on age grounds. Tony Larkin told him that the same line was being taken, in accordance with national policy, across the four local authorities in the county.
