Galway Bay fm newsroom - Galway County Council has decided to revise its areas of choice for social housing applicants.
Up to now, applicants seeking a home could apply for a residence in 54 areas in the county.
However, at a meeting of the council in Mountbellew last evening, councillors decided to reduce the areas from 54 to 14.
Under 2011 national legislation, a household applying for a home or to transfer from other forms of social housing support, can specify areas of choice in the application.
The council previously provided the option of selecting from a total of 56 areas- 54 in the county and two in the city.
However, following a report at the county council meeting last evening, councillors voted to reduce the number of county areas from 54 to 14.
Councillor Karey McHugh voiced her concern at the meeting that Tuam would be included in the same area as Kilconly, Corofin and Williamstown.
She told the meeting that the requirements of Tuam social housing applicants are usually specific to an urban environment.
Housing Director of Services Michael Owens said that if an applicant refuses a dwelling outside the town of Tuam, that would be taken into consideration when a second offer is made in the future and a similar area would not be offered again.
While the Aran Islands is a stand alone area of choice, Inishbofin is not offered as an area of choice for social housing applications.
Inishbofin now comes under the area which includes, Clifden, Leenane, Letterfrack, Roundstone.
Councillor Ivan Canning remarked that the council should concentrate on acquiring vacant homes and renovating them for social housing, rather than on new builds.
Michael Owens acknowledged the long waiting time for some applicants on the Social Housing Waiting List.
He said that anyone on the list for more than 8 years will have the opportunity to meet with a Housing Liasion Officer on a one-to-one basis, in the short term, to review their application.
He added anyone who refuses a choice-based offer can't reapply for 12 months and that is a restriction the council cannot change.
