Navan social housing applicants facing waits of up to eight years for a home
Families and individuals in Navan are facing waits of up to eight years for social housing allocations, new figures presented at the October meeting of Navan Municipal District reveal.
The data, released in response to a question from Councillor Eddie Fennessy (Sinn Féin), show that as of this month there are 1,441 applicants on the housing list across the Navan Municipal District, including both urban and rural areas.
In Navan town alone, 1,277 people are waiting for homes — the majority of whom are seeking one- and two-bedroom units. According to figures provided by Meath County Council, there are 657 applicants waiting for one-bedroom homes, 436 for two-bedroom, 134 for three-bedroom, and 50 for four-bedroom properties in the town.
In the surrounding rural areas, Bohermeen has 67 applicants, Dunderry and Robinstown both have 40, and Rathkenny has 17.
The waiting time for applicants seeking one- and two-bedroom homes in Navan currently dates back to 2017, while those waiting for three- and four-bedroom units are typically on lists from 2020.
Social housing provides affordable rental homes for people on low incomes and is managed locally by Meath County Council.
Residents must live in the area or have a local connection, meet set income limits, and submit a formal application to the council.
In Meath, net income thresholds range from €40,000 for a single adult to €48,000 for a household of three adults and four or more children.
Applicants are placed on a time-based waiting list, and the council notes that current demand means most applicants wait six to ten years before being offered a home, depending on their level of housing need.