Courts / Westmeath / Report

Father-of-six brings action against council over social housing support

Date
2018-01-22

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Athlone

Summary

Abdirahim Daley, a married father of six, has taken his case to the High Court after Westmeath County Council denied him social housing support. The council ruled that Daley's household net income of €30,200 exceeded the €28,750 threshold set for two adults and six children, and therefore he was not eligible for the allowance. Daley and his wife are unemployed and receive job seekers and rent supplement allowances, and he also receives a carer's allowance for one child. The council included this carer's allowance in the income calculation, a practice the court said was contrary to the 2011 Social Housing Support Household Means Policy, which excludes such allowances. Daley seeks to have the council's decision quashed and his application sent back for reconsideration. The case was adjourned to March after Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission ex‑parte.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father-of-six brings action against council over social housing support. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

October 19th Hearing Or Sentence
2018-01-22 Publication

Why: The action has been brought by Abdirahim Daley, a married father of six children, arising out of the council's decision that he does not qualify for social housing supports because the family's net income exceeds the maximum threshold set down for his household. CNI source report