Troy complains to minister of poor support for people in housing crisis

A Mullingar woman who has recently experienced a ‘martial breakdown’ and has two autistic children is not being adequately supported by government.

That’s according to Deputy Robert Troy, who told the Dáil last week that the woman has been forced to sell her home after a court order and is now going on the housing list.

He told his party colleague, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, that there is a need for more flexibility when it comes to housing supports in Ireland and also increased communication between the department and local authorities.

Deputy Troy said the local woman’s future remains up in the air.

“This is a mother whose only income is invalidity, she has three children and two of those children have autism,” he said.

“After a marital breakdown, because of a court order, the house must be sold, and the council has said they have no mechanism on which they can purchase the house.

“They want that lady to go on to the housing list, which she is on, wait until the house is sold, then look for HAP and then they might put her in a house at some stage in the future.

“The woman, whose marriage has broken down, who is dealing with two autistic children, should not be put to that challenge and it doesn’t make social or economic sense.”

Deputy Troy said a single mother in Athlone is facing similar issues.

“I have a lady who is 18 months living in emergency accommodation in Athlone now, following the need to leave her family home as a result of domestic abuse,” he said.

“She was told by Westmeath County Council to go out and find her own rental property, which she did at a cost of €1,100 per month.

“The council refused to sanction HAP for that lady because it was €50 over the limit and, in April 2023, 14 months later, she is still living in emergency accommodation because they wouldn’t sanction €50 over the HAP limit.

“Today, she texted me and said, ‘What on earth is going on, I honestly don’t think I can take this any more’. That’s a lady who has been told she is top priority by officials in Westmeath County Council who refused her HAP for the sake of €50.”

Deputy Troy acknowledged he is in receipt of HAP as a landlord, which is “well known on the record”, but said there is a need for more flexibility from government.

“Flexibility in our schemes is what’s needed, minister, and if you take anything from my contribution today, I hope you take that, he said.

“I also hope you arrange for senior officials in your department to meet officials in local authorities so flexibility can be introduced.”