There have been just over five thousand rejections of housing offers nationally in two years.
Just over one in every five people in Westmeath on a housing waiting list offered a home, have refused it.
The figure in Laois is one in every six.
Nationally, over five thousand offers of social housing have been refused in the past two years.
According to figures from the Irish Independent, almost 25,000 offers were made in 2021 and 2022.
Six councils refused to provide data including Offaly, while Laois only provided information for 2022.
Among the reasons given for refusals, were houses being too small, lacking a garden or parking space, or being too close to an ex-partner.
Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, Wayne Stanley, says many will turn down an offer for genuine reasons:
There's a 'real issue' with the sub-standard nature of a significant number of council houses in Ireland.
That's according to Assistant Professor of Social Policy at Maynooth University, Rory Hearne.
He says it's not as simple as the figures suggest:
He also says living near family supports can be essential for some parents who struggle to afford childcare:
Read More: Calls For Tougher Sanctions On Social Housing Refusals
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