Over 5,000 offers of social housing have been refused in Ireland over the past two years.
That's according to a recent Irish Independent analysis into acceptance rates within local authorities in Ireland.
Among the reasons for properties being refused included houses being too small, lacking in garden or parking space, or being located too close to an ex-partner.
Speaking on Déise Today, Councillor Eamon Quinlan broke down the Waterford figures.
"In 2021, Waterford made 464 offers, 106 of which were initially refused. In 2022, we made 621 offers, 104 were refused."
Reasons for refusal
Acknowledging that there is typically public backlash when figures are published indicating refusals of social housing offers, Councillor Quinlan said there are legitimate reasons for turning down an offer.
"Offering someone a three-storey home in Ard Cluaine if they have a mobility impairment is not going to work. We also have to take into consideration that people on the housing list have been moved up to
€30,000-35,000 a year but they might take in €18,000 a year and they might need to take buses to bring their children to school in the morning and they need to be around the public transport network."
Nationally, the analysis shows that as many as two in five offers were turned down last year.
Tramore man, Dr. Rory Hearne told the Irish Independent that a property may not be suitable for an individual family, using the example of a two-child family being offered a one-bedroom apartment.
He also noted the importance of proximity to families and support networks as being another reason why people may decide to reject the offer of a specific home.
Councils can deem a refusal of a property to be reasonable or not reasonable, and people can decline a property without losing their place on the housing list.
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