Local authorities are owed over €100 million in unpaid rent, with 285 social housing tenants in the red for more than €20,000 each.
Dublin city council is owed the largest amount at almost €38.5 million.
While Westmeath and Monaghan County Councils are owed the least at more than €300,000 each, according to figures compiled by the Irish Times.
Fine Gael councillor for Rathfarnham and Templeogue in Dublin, David McManus, says the numbers are alarming:
"Just put this into context, the rent that Dublin County Council charge is 10% of a person's income. So if you're a working person on your own private insurance week, the rent rate would be €50 a week. Then if you lose your job or suffer reduction in income, and you're on the €250 payment as other people were 10%, sort of in €35 a week, so I would argue with a very fair and progressive system."
