A county councillor in Mayo wants to know exactly who is on the council's housing waiting list, and specifically how the applicants break down by nationality. The request has opened a conversation that housing authorities elsewhere have already had, about what data should be collected and what the public is entitled to see. Supporters of the idea argue that knowing the make-up of the list helps plan services and spot pressure points in demand. Critics worry about how such figures would be used, and whether publishing them could stir division in communities. Either way, the underlying problem is not in dispute: demand for social housing in the county far outstrips what the council can supply. The breakdown, if it is ever produced, will feed an argument that shows no sign of cooling.