Councillor Hazel De Nortúin has hailed a recent WRC ruling that the exclusion of a social tenant from an apartment complex gym was unlawful discrimination.
In a statement, she said,
"A social housing tenant has succeeded in a discrimination complaint which she took against the management company of the apartment complex where she lives.
"A security guard refused her access to the gym in the complex on the basis that she lives in the apartment block at the complex which is designated for social housing tenants. She took a discrimination case against the management company to the Workplace Relations Commission.
"The WRC found that she “should have been afforded the same opportunity to access and use the gym facilities as any other tenant residing within the complex” and awarded her €2,500 in compensation.
"The Equal Status Acts ban discrimination in relation to the '[provision] of accommodation or any services or amenities related to accommodation,' including in circumstances where that discrimination is based on the fact that someone is in receipt of housing assistance.
"This law was introduced to tackle the scourge of ‘HAP discrimination’ - where landlords refuse to take tenants who receive the Housing Assistance Payment.
"This important ruling from the WRC now establishes that the law protects social tenants who live in ‘mixed’ apartment complexes and that their exclusion or segregation from facilities within those apartment complexes may constitute unlawful discrimination.
"The Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission can provide support to tenants who believe that they have been subject to discriminatory treatment.
"This ruling should force Dublin City Council to finally take action and amend the segregation it has created by ignoring the many calls from residents.
"The tenant who took the case should be congratulated for challenging the discriminatory treatment which she suffered."