Housing in Tipperary at a 'crisis point' with house hunters in 'desperation'
Councillor Jim Ryan said that people are "devastated" and "breaking down in tears" in his office
The housing situation in Thurles has "never been so bad" according to one local councillor.
Councillor Jim Ryan made the claim at the March meeting of the Thurles Municipal District, saying that people in the town are "devastated" and "breaking down in tears" when they come into his office looking for help to find a place to rent.
Cllr Ryan was calling on Tipperary County Council to look at raising the income limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the income limit to go on the social housing list.
At the moment, the maximum a person can be earning to go on the social housing list is €30,000 per year.
Cllr Ryan said that the rental market in the town has "never been so bad", saying that places to rent are now going for "Dublin prices".
"We're looking at rents in Thurles town of €1,500 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, things are at a crisis point in this town.
"Unless these HAP limits are changed and the income threshold limit is changed for people to get on the waiting list, we're going to see this problem grow even further and see people be put through heartache," Cllr Ryan said.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Ryan said that there is a sense of "desperation" among people in Thurles who can't find a place to live.
"They're at crisis point, there's a sense of desperation amongst an awful lot of people in Thurles, they can't afford to rent at the moment, I've come across adverts showing a two-bedroom apartment in Thurles for €1,500 a month, we're looking at Dublin prices for that sort of rent," he said.
"What I looked for today was to see was there some hope that maybe the income threshold for someone to go on the county council waiting list could increase from €30,000 because an awful lot of people out there simply can't afford to rent, and they're earning too much to be on the council list to get HAP.
"I also then looked to see was there any talks of getting the HAP threshold themselves being increased towards the cost of rent," Cllr Ryan said.
Housing officers from Tipperary County Council said in response that the income limits for social housing are set nationally, with no council control over it, but that they do have some discretion when it comes to HAP limits.
"We haven't heard anything about them being increased, but we do in relation to the HAP have a 35% discretionary rate we can pay, we can help people who have a payment that is substantial, so that is something that people can apply for."
Cllr Ryan said that hopefully something can be done nationally with the income limits.
"Hopefully the government and the Department may look at that again and try and help an awful lot of people that are on the ladder trying to get somewhere to rent but unfortunately can't afford to do so.
"We need to do something about them, there's crisis points, people are desperate, people are suffering from anxiety and depression as a result of it and I think we need to look at this very quickly," he concluded.