New Ross Cathaoirleach Calls Working People “The Uncrowned New Poor”

Independent Councillor John Dwyer has issued a stark warning about the widening gap between hard-working families and access to housing supports, saying Ireland’s social housing system is “penalising people for working.”

Speaking on Morning Mix in an in-depth interview, Cllr Dwyer criticised the current €37,000 income threshold for social housing eligibility, calling it “deeply unfair” and “completely outdated.” He says this rigid limit effectively excludes many low and middle-income earners from state support, forcing them into a volatile and unaffordable private rental market. “It’s now absolutely obvious that those who work for a living are the uncrowned new poor in Ireland,” “One euro over the threshold and you're off the list—or not allowed on it to begin with. It’s pushing people into hopelessness.” He highlighted the case of a woman in her 30s, living alone and working every hour she can in a relatively well-paid job. With earnings of €39,000 in take-home pay, she was told she was ineligible for a council house—despite facing monthly rents of up to €1,500 for a substandard property in New Ross. Cllr Dwyer is calling for the income threshold to be raised to €45,000, noting that it hasn’t been updated in six years, despite the rising cost of living and stagnant wages in many sectors. He argues that the cap is “trapping” working people and young families in a housing crisis not of their making. “Young couples, people doing overtime, or earning productivity bonuses—these are the people being punished,” he said. “We’ve created a system that taxes every cent they earn and then denies them any help when they’re struggling to pay market rents.” Cllr. Dwyer also took aim at what he described as government inaction and urged Minister James Browne, who is expected in studio this week, to address the issue head-on. He is also critical of the trade union movement, saying it has not done enough to represent members who are now locked out of housing supports. “This is the biggest crisis facing working people in Ireland today. We need a housing policy that rewards work—not one that punishes it.”