At a recent meeting of the Galway City Council, City Hall officials proposed to lease 57 empty houses to the Cluid Housing Association for a period of five years.
However a number of councillors expressed concern over the proposal, with Independent councillor Catherine Connolly fearing it could create a situation which could leave tenants with less protection.
As a result a decision on the proposal has been deferred until the February meeting of the council to allow time to get the views of the Department of the Environment on an alternative option of purchasing the houses for social housing.
The council’s director of services Joe O’Neill said City Hall was still awaiting reply from the Department.
