Officials said introducing occupational preference could be considered discriminatory and may not comply with equality legislation, noting that national rules require affordable allocations to be based on income thresholds and housing need, not job titles.
A proposal from Naas Mayor Seamie Moore to reserve some affordable and cost-rental homes for gardaí, nurses and teachers in Naas has been rejected by Kildare County Council, which says the idea may not comply with equality law, is unworkable in practice, and conflicts with how national housing schemes are required to operate.
The Council’s Housing Department stated that it cannot ask the Taoiseach or the Housing Minister to allocate homes in Naas on the basis of someone’s occupation.
Officials said introducing occupational preference could be considered discriminatory and may not comply with equality legislation, noting that national rules require affordable allocations to be based on income thresholds and housing need, not job titles.
"Introducing occupational preference could be considered discriminatory and may not comply with equality legislation," a council spokesperson said.
They also warned that giving “key workers” priority access would raise immediate problems around fairness and consistency - including disputes about which professions qualify and which do not.
While reaffirming support for expanding affordable and cost-rental supply in Naas, the Council said access to these schemes must remain transparent, equitable and legally sound.
"Determining who qualifies as 'key services' would be complex and could lead to disputes or inconsistencies. It would also create administrative burdens and potential legal challenges," the council spokesperson said.
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