Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2023
122. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a ‘no-fault’ eviction ban in County Kildare over the winter months, given that the homeless and emergency accommodation services in the county are overwhelmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55567/23]
View answerThe Government agreed on 7 March 2023 that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act.
The Government at that time considered that extending the emergency period would be detrimental to medium and long-term supply of private rental accommodation. That position has not changed. My Department and local authorities are instead focusing on implementing the additional measures which I announced last March to increase the supply of social and affordable homes. These include:
• an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;
• an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024;
• amending the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes; and
• developing a Cost Rental Tenant in Situ scheme for tenants at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports to continue to rent their home.
I also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners, giving tenants the opportunity to buy their homes, by requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant. Priority legal drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill is underway with the aim of publication as soon as possible. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Bill is expected to conclude before the Christmas recess.
Ultimately increasing housing supply across all tenures is the key to preventing homelessness. Housing for All is successfully supporting a significantly increased supply of new homes, with almost 30,000 built in 2022, an increase of 45% on 2021 significantly above the Housing for All target of 24,600. Furthermore, more than 22,400 homes have been built in the first nine months of 2023, with the Housing for All targets of 29,000 and 33,450 for 2023 and 2024, respectively, expected to be met or exceeded. In 2022, over 10,000 new social homes were delivered, including 7,433 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes delivered since 1975. I expect that this level of delivery will be surpassed in 2023.
Under Housing for All the Government is committed to increase supply and protect renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. My Department is currently undertaking a review of the Private Rental Sector which will inform Government on the measures which need to be taken to ensure a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland.
