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Councillors or TDs cannot get you a council house. Time to expose the myth.
Published: 9 August, 2006
Sinn Féin Councillor Daren Lalor has said that it is time to expose one the
major myths in local politics and for some councillors or TDs to start and be
honest with the public about the nonsense that they can get a housing applicant
a house. He said that any one who is allocated a house by the local authorities
is perfectly entitled to one as of right and was not given the house as some
sort of favour by an elected representative.
The Sinn Fein councillor said:
"We are inundated with calls from the public relating to issues regarding local
authority housing, particularly the waiting list for new and vacant dwellings
and what is startling is the lack of knowledge some of the public have in
relation to how the local authority allocate their houses".
"We have to ask ourselves why is this the case, I believe holding back this
information has been a deliberate ploy by some elected representatives over the
years in order to dupe the electorate into believing that councillors have some
power over the allocation of council houses".
"This charade is particularly visible at a time when houses are been allocated.
It is unbelievable that some families still feel an allegiance to some elected
representative because they may have bluffed them into believing it was them
that got their son or daughter a council house.
The reality is that it is the person's circumstances on the housing list that
governs whether they are eligible for a house. The allocation of houses is an
executive function within the housing section of the council and they are guided
by the Points Scheme of Letting Priorities which is available on request at all
council offices. This pamphlet explains where and how the points are evaluated
in order for an applicant or family to qualify for a council house".
"Our policy in Inishowen Sinn Fein is to empower the public. The way that we do
this is that everyone who contacts us regarding housing is sent a copy of this
pamphlet and are fully aware of their entitlements. It is only through this type
of empowerment that we can expose this myth once and for all".
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