Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I flagged in advance that we expected an increase in homelessness over a number of months before we see it reducing again. What we have seen is of serious concern to me, the Government and all Deputies. We are acting to address it. While significant work has been done, more needs to be done. We are committed to doing that work.

I have established the national homelessness action committee and asked it to prioritise the issue of homelessness prevention and look at all avenues to address this. I have brought in a number of measures to enhance security of tenure for renters, including most recently in respect of tenancies of unlimited duration through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021.

The exiting of landlords from the private rental sector is a complex issue, as the Deputy and others acknowledge. Data from the Residential Tenancies Board in quarter 2 of 2019 showed the most common reason for issuing notices to quit is that the landlord intends to sell the property. We need to retain small landlords to provide much-needed accommodation and the Government will support the continued participation of small-scale landlords in the rental market. We are open to looking at further changes to ensure that can happen.

The most effective way to increase exits from homelessness in the medium to long term is to increase supply, particularly of social housing, and to accelerate supply of housing over the next decade. Significant progress is already being made under Housing for All to accelerate supply. Recent commencement figures on the social and private sides are encouraging. All additional measures we can take to address the rise in homelessness are being actively pursued.

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