Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants and the local authority in which they reside that have availed of or that have attempted to avail of protection from eviction notices as a result of falling into rent arrears during or due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4830/21]
View answerIn recognition of the need to protect the health of the population, local authorities have been asked during periods of lockdown not to terminate any of their tenancies for any reason, other than severe cases of anti-social behaviour engaged in by members of a household that necessitates action by the local authority.
Information is not collected by my Department on tenancy terminations by local authorities. However, where a person in social housing has lost employment as a result of Covid-19, their local authority can review the rent payable to take account of this. I understand that local authority staff engaged on rents administration have, since the outset of the measures taken by Government to deal with the pandemic, been prioritising the processing of such applications for downward rent reviews.
