Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McDonald referred to the figures for December. They are a stark reminder to the Government that a great deal of work remains to be done to solve the problem of homelessness. The family figures remained more or less the same. In fact, the number of dependents reduced by 44. That is understandable since in many cases children will stay with extended family during the Christmas period.

The Deputy raised the issue of protecting tenants. We introduced a new amendment to prevent tenants from being evicted when one institutional investor sells a development property to another institutional investor. That is exactly what we did. There were limits to it on the basis of advice from the Attorney General’s office. The Deputy is or should be familiar with that.

The Deputy referred to further protections for tenants in rental properties that may be in receivership. We have given a commitment that, by the end of the first quarter of this year, my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality would examine ways to transfer the kind of legal responsibilities that landlords have to receivers. That process is under way.

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