Mayo workers borrowing for the basics due to high rent - Barrett

"I'm coming across many cases where working people are left with nothing at the end of the month and have to borrow for the basics."

That's according to Mayo Independent Councillor, Harry Barrett"

He elaborated: "Workers on the minimum wage in this county can spend up to half of their wages on rent.

"This is far more than in countries like Poland and France and as a result there are left with no disposable income.

When you add in the rising costs of food and fuel, these working people are left having to borrow for the basics because they have virtually no disposable income.

"They tell me that making savings to replace household appliances become a major issue and even a visit to the dentist becomes impossible.

"The figures speak for themselves. If you earn €2,300 per month on the minimum wage you can spend up to €1,000 to rent a one bedroom apartment in Castlebar or Ballina.

"That's 43% of your income gone already before you've eaten or paid your fuel bills. It's also far greater than what you would pay in other countries.

"So working people in this county have been made poor by the failure of this government to build social and affordable homes over the last 30 years.

"In that time, and even today, local councils have outsourced housing to the private sector and it has completely failed.

"I'll continue to push hard to make Mayo County Council take control of this situation by building more homes on council land, using their own designs and labour, like we did years ago so that working people can afford to rent, and as a result have the disposable income to live with dignity."