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

I thank Deputy Smith for the question. As he knows, the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was a time-limited enactment which provided for a stay on eviction notices up to 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.

In terms of the longer term, my Department has commenced a major review of the private rented sector to ensure that the sector is put on a sound footing, which provides certainty for both tenants and landlords, including in relation to tenancy terms. In relation to purchase of properties with tenancies in situ, I reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties, including one-bedroom units; other properties that allow persons and families to exit homelessness; and specific housing required for individuals with a disability or other priority need. Limited acquisitions through the capital assistance scheme are also being approved for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, the homeless and people with a disability. While my Department does not hold data on the occupation status of properties acquired for social housing or on whether a HAP or RAS tenant was in situat the time of purchase, we are collating that data. I said that during the last round of questions we had. We intend to publish the data when we have the final year figures. I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention to acquire up to 1,500 social homes this year. Those will be specifically targeted for purchase with tenants in situ, where the tenant is a HAP or a RAS tenant. The majority of these will be focused on landlords who are exiting the market. We need to ramp that up and expedite it. I met with every CEO and every director of service for housing in local authorities last week in Wexford, and this was reiterated to them. The resources for local authorities will be put firmly behind them to accelerate this programme. It is a good way of getting additional public housing stock in and, most importantly, making sure that those people who are already on our social housing list can stay in their homes and those homes revert to public ownership.

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