Figures released under a freedom of information request show that 1 in 3 people on the Laois County Council housing list are not Irish citizens, while a majority of those in receipt of housing assistance payments in the county are also citizens of other counties.
The breakdown was compiled by the Housing Department of Laois County Council and categorises those on the housing list according to whether they are Irish citizens, European citizens and non-European citizens.
The number of people on the Laois housing list totalled 1,752 in February 2023.
Of that total, some 64%, less than two thirds or some 1,129 were Irish citizens. European citizens made up 438 of the total or 25%, while non-European accounted for 11% of the total representing 185 people.
In regard to housing assistance payments (HAP), the figures released by the local authority showed that Irish citizens only made up 47% of the total, or 186 out of a total of 394 persons.
Amongst those receiving help with the cost of accommodation, non-Irish citizens were actually in a majority in Laois, with 143 European citizens accounting for 36% of the total, while non-European citizens made up 17%.
The housing crisis in Laois has been described by local TDs and councillors as having “spiralled out of control”, with Independent TD Carol Nolan previously urging government action on what she called the worst crisis in decades.
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