Online abuse of council housing staff condemned

Abuse of staff in the housing department and misinformation online about housing allocations were highlighted at the November meeting of Westmeath County Council.

The members adopted the Housing Allocations Scheme 2025 which give priority to homeless applicants and provides for “rightsizing”.

Cllr Michael Dollard said there was “a lot of misinformation on social media, especially in the area of social housing”.

He said those longest on the housing list should be given priority, and local councillors should be consulted when housing are being given out.

Cllr Ken Glynn agreed that “length on the list is paramount”. He claimed there was misinformation “out there about shorter lists”. He said some applicants are approved on medical grounds and that that discretion was essential. “If people are in a situation, they can’t wait years for a transfer”, he remarked.

Cllr Jones said that abuse of housing staff would not be tolerated. He spoke of abuse of staff online and how unfair it was to the staff members and their families.

He said misinformation was being posted on social media suggesting that people were arriving in the country and going straight onto the housing list. “That is not happening; that’s not how it works; I have yet to come across a circumstance where that has happened,” he declared.

Jackie Finney, director of housing, said said homelessness was a priority in the housing scheme. She revealed that nine families exited homeless emergency accommodation to date this year. Ms Finney said the priority for the council and the Midland Regional Services is to try to get away from private emergency accommodation because it is expensive and not suitable. Family hubs, temporary accommodation services and other types of transitional accommodation is being explored, she stated.

Where there is a break down in a relationship there is no obligation to house the person who leaves the house, and they must go on the list, the meeting was told.

Ms Finney said that all efforts are made to ensure the protection and support of the housing staff.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme