Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Ellis. Sometimes what somebody considers to be a reasonable offer may not be reasonable. A person may be offered a house on top of a hill but may have to refuse it due to ill health. There is nothing to stop the local authority offering the same person a second house in the same hill-top estate. I have known that to happen. It would be considered a person's second refusal and their rent allowance will be cut off.

I have come across examples where a person's ex-husband or partner may live a few doors away from where they are offered a house. If they appeal against the refusal, it is considered to be a valid refusal. The definition of "reasonable offer" comes down to the individual. It should be standardised because it is not always as it seems. Much of the time, people may refuse houses for valid reasons, but officials sitting behind desks do not see it that way.

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