Mayo's social housing list falls... but not everyone believes the data

There are 1,046 applicants on Mayo County Council's social housing waiting list, a decrease of 52 compared with 2024.

Of these, a large proportion are people in the 30-39 age bracket while the majority (61%) are single adult households.

The figures were provided by the council's Director of Services for Housing Catherine McConnell at a recent meeting of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC). Ms McConnell noted that 315 applicants had been on the list less than one year, while 369 have been waiting for a home for one to five years with the remainder (362) on the list for more than five years.

More than half (51%) of applicants are unemployed while 74% are Irish citizens, 14% are from the European Economic Area and 4% are from the United Kingdom. Ms McConnell noted that the demographic breakdown “goes against the impression that the list is made up mostly of non-EU nationals". She noted that where a person is in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment, their housing need is deemed to be met and so they are not included on the social housing waiting list.

SPC chairperson Cllr Peter Flynn welcomed the fact that the numbers were coming down, adding: “It also shows the vast majority are either Irish or EU citizens, so this right wing case that goes out there all the time about not looking after our own and all about illegal migrants into the country, I think it’s important the message goes out that is not accurate.” 

Cllr Flynn also noted the number on the list who are unemployed, particularly given the need for affordable housing for those who are working.

"[People] are being advised to become unemployed or go to part-time work in order to get on housing waiting lists.” 

He railed: “At a time when we have almost full employment, we have a housing list dominated by single individuals who are unemployed or in part-time employment, and yet our entire focus is on this sector as a council. While we have a target to deliver 169 houses this year, our target for affordable housing is zero. 

"I have to ask, what is going on that people who are in work are not recognised? We all know people struggling and who are working lots of hours, yet they can’t afford to buy or rent a house. Yet the entire focus is on the cohort who opt out, who are predominantly Irish and predominantly single. We really need to think where the focus should be.” 

Cllr Flynn added that while the council continues to build a lot of three-bed houses, “the data shows it should be more one or two-beds and apartments".

“The data clearly paints a picture of where we are in terms of need and a huge cohort is not being catered for. The fact we still have a zero target for affordable houses in this county is incomprehensible and ultimately stops with the Department and Minister for Housing.” 

He said a meeting with the Department of Housing had been sought to discuss affordable housing, but it had yet to happen.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said he disagreed with the findings and was not “taking the pat on the back” for the reduction in the social housing waiting list, adding: “The reason the number of people who were on the housing list has decreased is because many of these have seen their earnings go over the €30,000 threshold. I know people this has happened to, so it does not mean these people have been housed or that they emigrated, it just means they are gone off the list and no longer eligible to apply for a house.” 

Cllr Kilcoyne said even an increase in a private pension can cause people to fall off the housing list, adding: “I am not anti-immigration but it is only five years maximum to become a citizen now, so it would be interesting to see how many of those on the list as Irish were born in Ireland, as opposed to how many were naturalised as Irish citizens, because my view is there are many people like this that are on the list and that distorts it.” 

Cllr Harry Barrett told the forum: “I have at least 20 individuals constantly contacting me to ask are there social homes for them. People are also struggling in terms of renting where HAP and RAS payments have taken low-income houses to rent off the market, leaving people having to pay extortionate rent and become poorer as a result.” 

Ms McConnell confirmed that council management will write again to the Department of Housing on the affordable housing issue and “make a request for somebody to be made available". She added that the council has also submitted proposals under housing needs with hugely increased recommendations for one and two bed homes.

"We in Mayo County Council acknowledge that need is significantly greater. That is a discussion with the Department now and if this is the type of social units that are required than that is what we have to provide.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.