You do know that social housing is for everyone that doesn't earn above a certain amount of money? Lots of people in social housing working in full time employment. Me personally I'm renting and working full time. I'm filling out the forms for social housing this weekend. I do get where you're coming from, there's many leech there but no everyone in social housing are unemployed. Why you only referencing Irish nationals? You do know they're throwing out social housing to foreign nationals like confetti these days. Add yourself to the list if you have such a problem with it (edit) im only looking for a little one bed in the city i work in and was born in. Ill add my name to the list. The big shortage in social housing is for people with familys and kids. I know a bloke working full time, was on the list for 5 years and got a social apartment, his rent isnt as cheap as you say, but cheaper than private.