Councillors feeling pressure over housing for local people in rural Waterford

There is a growing concern in rural Waterford that due to the Choice Based Letting (CBL) system, local houses are not being allocated to local people.

Choice-based letting is a council system that allows people on the housing list to choose properties from a list of available homes.

Councillors say, however, that people born and raised within the Comeragh electoral district are not being given priority for houses within their own district over people from neighbouring areas.

Cathaoirleach of the District, Cllr John O’Leary, said there is a growing pressure on councillors to try and ensure that locals can get properties in their own areas.

“In relation to allocations, there's a big demand and a lot of pressure put on the local councillor to ensure that those houses are given to local people and there is an expectation on us. I think we all share that view.

"The pressure is on us. We’re always trying to ensure that social housing that becomes available in the Comeragh district be allocated to people who reside in those areas."

Cllr Declan Clune shared the same view, saying that keeping local people in local homes is vital to ensure the upkeep of rural communities.

"This is something that a lot of the members here at various times have collectively been pushing for. It's so important to keep local families in local properties, to keep schools, local clubs, shops going."

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