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The Housing Minister is being asked to investigate if a man was allocated a social house despite his salary being over the income limit.

Senator Trevor O Clochartaigh said a Galway City Council staff member was allowed to buy a property through a scheme for low income families

Speaking in the Seanad yesterday the Sinn Fein politician said the man already owned a home, which is now his primary residence, and the other house is rented out.

The council has confirmed staff are now trawling through files – some as old as 12 years – to investigate these allegations.

(Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie)

A Galway City Council spokesman said: “We are aware of Senator O Clochartaigh’s remarks and the claims raised are significant allegations in relation to housing issues.

“The housing department are, on foot of these, looking at files.”

The senator told the Irish Mirror he was shown land registry documents supporting these claims by a whistle-blower within the council.

Minister Simon Coveney is being urged to investigate the claims.

The senator said: “If these allegations are true then it is a very serious situation indeed.

“Questions need to be asked as to how the Minister can ensure that such irregularities cannot happen, if he has any knowledge of the case I have mentioned and what he intends to do about it?.”

This is not the first time concern allegations have surfaced at city hall.

In 2011 an internal investigation was launched, but a report on its conclusions has never been made public. Mr O Clochartaigh said: “I am told a number of other officials also acquired houses, which are essentially assets of the taxpayer, and they would appear to have profited financially in that the houses have risen dramatically in value, accruing them a significant dividend at the cost of the taxpayer.

“The documentation indicates as well that other officials were also awarded houses in excess of their need.

“For example, some were given three-bed houses when their need only justified a one or two-bed house.

“It is alleged officials were allocating the better houses to their colleagues and they were getting priority over other people on the waiting lists.”