Eleven housing refusals in January ‘very disappointing’
Eleven people offered housing accommodation by Westmeath County Council in January refused the properties allocated to them.
The figure emerged during a general discussion on housing at the Council’s February meeting.
Cllr Aengus O’Rourke described the figure as “very disappointing” and asked whether the refusals had been deemed unreasonable.
Director of services, Jackie Finney, stated that the council staff make considerable efforts to match families with suitable homes and review refusal reasons carefully.
Where refusals are deemed unreasonable, consequences can follow if a second offer is rejected.
She added that the council plans to pilot a choice-based letting system on a number of properties this year.