Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
74. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans in place to support tenants when the eviction ban ends in March 2023, given the stark increase in notices-to-quit issued. [59812/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022.
The Act makes emergency provision to defer the termination dates of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the ‘winter emergency period’ (30 October 2022 to 31 March 2023). The aim is to mitigate the risk that persons whose tenancies would otherwise be terminated during the winter would be unable to obtain alternative accommodation.
To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter period, the Act provides for deferred Notices of Termination to take effect on a phased basis over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023, taking account of the specified termination date and the tenancy duration in accordance with the following table:
|
Period during which the termination date falls |
Tenancy duration |
Deferred termination date |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 January 2023 |
Less than 6 months |
1 May 2023 |
|
Beginning on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Less than 6 months |
18 June 2023 |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 January 2023 |
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
1 May 2023 |
|
Beginning on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
1 June 2023 |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 January 2023 |
Not less than one year but less than 7 years |
15 April 2023 |
|
Beginning on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Not less than one year but less than 7 years |
1 May 2023 |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Not less than 7 years |
1 April 2023 |
As a further emergency measure, I have also written to local authority Chief Executives, informing them of my decision to continue the delegated sanction, to purchase homes where the tenant is at risk of homelessness, for the duration of the emergency winter eviction ban and up to the end of the transition period in June 2023.
Ultimately of course, increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness. Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All.
There is a strong pipeline, with 44,715 dwellings granted planning permission in the 12 months to the end of June 2022. 27,773 new homes were completed in the twelve months to end September 2022 - greater than the total for 2021 or any full year since the CSO completions series began. There were 26,608 units commenced in the year to October 2022 and we are on track to exceed the Housing for All target of 24,600 new build homes in 2022.
Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the largest State home building programme ever, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
