DUBLIN — Minister of State Robert Troy has moved to clarify his recent remarks on social housing, stating that his proposal to prioritize workers is not intended to exclude vulnerable groups. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the Fianna Fáil TD explained that his suggestion was part of a submission to Westmeath County Council, which is currently reviewing its housing allocation scheme.
Troy’s proposal is to introduce a “weighted system” or “additional points” for applicants who are working. He emphasized, “I’m not talking about including or excluding people who cannot work because they have a full-time disability, full-time carers, perhaps think about parents with no access to childcare.”
He framed his suggestion as a way to “incentivise people to work” at a time of “full employment” when many small businesses are struggling to find people for lower-paid jobs. Troy insisted that his aim is to “enhance the fairness of the scheme” and is not an attempt to move workers ahead of those who have been on the waiting list for a long time. The minister stated that the government’s primary goal remains reducing housing waiting lists.
He defended the government’s broader housing policy, highlighting initiatives such as the affordable housing scheme, the vacant home grant, and the shared equity scheme. Troy noted that his proposal was a local suggestion to Westmeath County Council and had not been discussed with the Minister for Housing or the Taoiseach.
In response, Minister for Education Helen McEntee said she had not seen a specific proposal from Troy but stressed that the government’s focus is on building more housing. She added that existing schemes already support working individuals.
The article also referenced Troy’s resignation as a junior minister in 2022 following errors in declaring property interests. The Standards in Public Offices Commission found he had contravened the Ethics Act but noted that the failure was “inadvertent.” He was reappointed as Minister of State at the Department of Finance in February.
