Kildare people should be able to make housing applications online...and in different languages
A call has been made for housing applications to be done online.
Cllr Noel Connolly said the option should be made available.
He also told a Kildare County Council meeting that it should be possible for people to be able to track the progress of their applications whether on paper or online.
He said the existing paper system takes a lot of time and if it were done online the process would be streamlined.
He said that rather than awaiting developments at government level, KCC should itself launch an online method.
Cllr Suzanne Doyle said that the system should also be multi lingual to accommodate those who struggle with English.
KCC official Annette Aspell said that while this may be possible in local authorities in Dublin, the system used in Kildare and elsewhere does not accommodate this.
She said that while is it desirable, to deliver an online system locally would be “a huge undertaking.”
She said the council supports an online application process and a business case is currently being progressed for the sector by the Local Government Management Association. A key requirement of the business case is that the system must support the digitisation of social housing applications.
Ms Aspell said she could not confirm a timeframe for introduction of a new system at this stage, however, work is progressing to conclude the business case.