'Deplorable disgrace' that woman with disabilities is off Laois housing list

The removal of a woman with disabilities from the Laois council housing list because her income has risen the threshold to qualify is a 'disgusting and deplorable disgrace'.

Laois TD Willie Aird made the comment in the Dáil where he raised the case of a constituent, a woman in her 20s who was on  Laois County Council social housing list until recently.

"She has now received a letter to say she has been taken off the waiting list with Laois County Council because she is slightly over the threshold. I cannot believe that, in this day and age, this can happen to a person," he said.

Dep Aird said the woman could not avail of the Housing Assistance Programme (HAP) because there was no rental accommodation suitable for her needs.

"Naturally, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to get such accommodation in the community. On her income, she can never afford a house because she can never get a loan. After all, she can never qualify for mortgage protection," he said.

The Fine Gael TD said he does not accept a ministerial explanation.

"I have continually harassed the Minister for Housing, but he tells me it goes back to the local authority. It does not go back to the local authority. The thresholds are set by the Government. 

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"The local authority, Laois County Council, is totally annoyed with what has happened. It had accommodation just about ready for this lady after working for years to do it. I think it is deplorable and an absolute disgrace. Every one of us should be ashamed of ourselves to think that this would happen to a lady like that. She has been confined to a wheelchair since birth. I think it is disgusting," he said.

The TD raised the issue at the Joint Committee on Disability Matters debate.