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

As the Deputy will be aware, the aim of the emergency winter eviction ban is to afford time for housing supply to increase and to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market. To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter period and to ensure there is no cliff edge, as referred to by the Deputy, on 1 April, the ban provides for deferred notices of termination to take effect on a phased basis from 1 April to 18 June 2023.

As a further emergency measure, I have written to local authority chief executives, informing them again of my decision to continue the delegated sanction to purchase homes where a 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, when I will review the matter again. That does not mean those sales need to be concluded; it just means the conveyancing process needs to start. Ultimately, 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 and nearly 28,000 homes completed in the 12 months to the end of September, greater than the total for all of 2021. There were also more than 26,000 units commenced in the year to October 2022 and we are on track to exceed substantially the target of 24,600 new build homes in 2022, with a substantial number of them being social homes. The record investment we are putting in next year, of €4.5 billion in capital, will continue and allow us to further accelerate the provision of social homes. We will be using this pause to bring forward additional homes. I will meet with the County and City Management Association, CCMA, again later this morning to further reinforce the situation and the Government decision in respect of purchase with tenants in situ.

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