Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to update on the Tenant in Situ purchase, cost rental and Local Authority Purchase schemes with Minister O’Brien

The Committee will also hold a separate engagement on proposed changes to navigation byelaws for certain inland waterways.

The meeting at 3pm in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House will be split into two sessions:

• 3pm – Proposed changes to the River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation byelaws with representatives from the Irish Residential Boat Owners’ Association, the Royal Canal Amenity Group, and Waterways Ireland;
• 4.15pm – Update on the Tenant in Situ purchase, cost rental and Local Authority Purchase schemes from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Steven Matthews said: “The Tenant in Situ purchase, cost rental and Local Authority Purchase schemes are all important elements of the Government’s Housing For All strategy to tackle the housing and accommodation crisis. The Tenant in Situ scheme, for example, is aimed at preventing tenants from becoming homeless by allowing local authorities to buy properties that have been put up for sale by the landlord where there is an existing tenant in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment.

“The Committee was briefed on the scheme earlier this year by officials and now welcomes this opportunity to meet with Minister O’Brien for an update on the progress being made in implementing Tenant in Situ and similar schemes. We are particularly interested in hearing how the schemes have progressed since the ending of the eviction ban on March 31 and the increased funding allocation made available by Government.

“Before that the Committee will discuss the proposed new River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation byelaws with key stakeholders. These are designed to update the current laws which date from the 1980s, before the establishment of Waterways Ireland, and which are no longer considered fit for purpose in light of the developments and changes that have taken place over the last four decades.”

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.