Calls made for housing review

“We have certain residents who are living in certain estates around the county who just don't give a damn about their neighbours.”

The words of Independent Councillor Danny Collins speaking at a Cork County Council meeting this week where a number of councillors called for a review of the role played by garda vetting in the allocation of council housing.

A number of councillors asked if someone with a criminal record could qualify for a council house or be evicted from one, citing anti-social and unneighbourly behaviour as a common issue in their constituencies.

Cllr Collins called for a review of the allocation of housing and said that proper estate management needs to be implemented.

“A lot of people might be on the housing list for years, and in the meantime might have become involved in some criminality,” said Cllr Collins.

Speaking on unneighbourly behaviour, Cllr Collins said that he had experienced the problem first hand and said the current situation was not good enough for people who were “trying to keep their own houses”.

However, speaking afterwards to the Cork Independent, Cllr Collins said that every conviction is different and should be assessed accordingly. “If gardaí think a person has turned a corner over a lengthy time, of course they should be left carry on with life,” he said.

Chair of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee, Councillor Seamus McGrath (FF) said the issue was an important one and confirmed that garda vetting does take place prior to every offer of council housing. However, he stressed there is always going to be an “element of discretion”.

Labour Party Councillor James Kennedy said there is very little Cork County Council can do, even if it is found that someone has a prior conviction.

“I think we all know there is very little the Cork County Council can do about that. How are you going to evict a tenant? Have we done it? How many have been carried out?” he asked the council.

“Even with a very serious criminal record like child molestation, what can we do about it?” he added.

According to the Cork County Council Tenant’s Handbook, tenants or members of their household who engage in anti-social behaviour will not be considered for transfers and may in fact be evicted by the local authority.

It goes on to say that the tenant must not cause, commit or allow any member of the tenant’s household or any person visiting the premises at the tenant’s invitation to cause or commit any form of nuisance or engage in conduct likely to cause nuisance, annoyance or disturbance.