Local discretion for families in hardship
O’Rourke asked whether councils should be allowed to let families remain in their homes as tenants when hardship warrants it; O’Brien would not endorse the practice generally but said councils may use discretion in extreme cases, as Westmeath had done. Procedural exchanges followed before the Chair moved to the next Deputy.
Does the Minister accept that in isolated cases — I am speaking about County Westmeath — where the local authority have taken into account the financial circumstances of a couple or family and allow them to stay on in the house and pay rent, a council should continue that humane practice, especially in these difficult times?
Comment on this
I will not advocate that local authorities should engage in this activity but where local authorities see extreme conditions they can use their discretion.
