Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 March 2025
818. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will announce the funding allocations and sanctioned number of acquisitions that will be designated to local authorities under the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10647/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra828. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on an extension of the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra829. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the €265 million approved for housing acquisitions in 2025, by housing programme; the amount approved in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra830. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of units local authorities will be able to acquire under the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2025; if each local authority has been provided with the numbers each can acquire; if not, when that will be outlined; the amount in total allocated for the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2025; the amount approved in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; the amount allocated to each local authority; the total number of homes acquired in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10881/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra855. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the 2025 social housing tenant-in-situ target, with a breakdown for each local authority area; if a circular communicating this and the new restrictions to the scheme has been issued to local authorities; if not, when it will be circulated; if he will commit to publishing the circular on his Department’s website; and if a risk assessment has been done regarding these new restrictions to determine the number of existing tenant-in-situ applications that may not now proceed due to the new restrictions. [11157/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra856. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing tenant-in-situ purchases concluded in 2024, with a breakdown by local authority area, providing an average purchase cost for the total number of such acquisitions and an average for the acquisitions in each local authority area [11158/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra874. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason an application for the tenant-in-situ scheme was rejected for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11351/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra875. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason an application for the tenant in situ scheme for a person (details supplied) was rejected.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11352/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra920. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes that have been bought in each county, by each local authority under the tenant-in-situ scheme since the year of commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11898/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra931. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of purchases made under the tenant-in-situ scheme for County Wexford and County Wicklow in 2023 and 2024; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12056/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 818, 828 to 830, inclusive, 855, 856, 874, 875, 920 and 931 together.
Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants.
A further Government decision extended such acquisitions into 2024 with approval granted for 1,300 Tenant in Situ acquisitions in addition to the 200 priority acquisitions target for 2024 contained in Housing for All.
Tenant in Situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025. My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the programme and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly.
Under revised arrangements for second hand acquisitions in 2025 local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the following priority categories; tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons, exits from homelessness and Buy and Renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised.
Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focussed acquisitions programme. My Department is finalising a circular setting out the arrangements and this will be issued to the sector shortly.
Regarding the details supplied relating to properties that have been rejected by Limerick County Council, it should be noted that it is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. My Department does not hold data, therefore, on the number of social housing acquisitions applications that have been withdrawn or rejected, nor on the reasons for such withdrawals or rejections. Further information may be available from individual local authorities.
Local authorities take appropriate steps to ensure that their first response will be to support households to prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served with a notice of termination by their landlord. A local authority will assess the options available in each case and decide the appropriate action.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. Comprehensive data on social and affordable housing is published on my Department's website up to Quarter 3 2024, including completed acquisitions: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Data for all of these schemes up to Q4 2024 is being collected and collated.
