Serious criminals 'with metal doors and BMW jeeps have been given social housing in Kildare'

People with convictions for serious criminal activity have been provided with social housing in Kildare.

This, said Independent Ireland councillor Bill Clear, is despite the fact that there are 10,500 people on the housing list within the county.

The councillor said, at a Naas Municipal District meeting, he was not referring to people convicted of anti social behaviour offences but convictions in the circuit court for assault, drug offences, murder and rape.

He asked what what conditions or restrictions Kildare County Council applies “to individuals with serious criminal convictions when they are being considered for allocation of a social housing property.”

He said he was referring to the Naas area and also asked “what penalties apply to existing social housing tenants who are subsequently convicted of serious offences.”

READ NEXT Fuel deliveries due 'today or tomorrow' with hundreds of stations still out of fuel

KCC’s response referred only to anti social behaviour offences.

Cllr Clear said everybody knows when these criminals get a house and councillors are sometimes criticised.

Once being housed “they don’t change their behaviour, in fact it often gets worse.”

Cllr Clear asked if homes are benign allocated when these people are on bail or awaiting trial.

“People are concerned about it. There are X5 jeeps parked outside that you can't see into and there are metal doors inside the front doors,” he added.

Cllr Clear added he was concerned that "there is no vetting” and added “it makes the lives of law-abiding people a misery.”