Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. Before I respond, I should point out this matter was raised in the Chamber last night in the context of the Sinn Féin Private Members' motion. Deputy Harkin also raised it in relation to the north west. The Government is cognisant and mindful of the challenges facing local authorities and people and families across the country, not just in the greater Dublin area and larger urban centres. We are conscious of that. A homeless prevention workshop was held by the Housing Agency in 2022 focusing on needs and challenges across the country. One of the local authorities, Kilkenny County Council in my constituency, has taken a proactive stance. There is a good pipeline of housing delivery in the county and the council is working on a case-by-case basis with families at risk of homelessness. There is a good system in place for dealing with that. It is not perfect by any means and each local authority deals with the issue differently. There is, however, some good work going on across the country. I am mindful of the issue raised by Deputy Kenny about local authorities not buying houses in rural areas. I think they should do so. It is important that any option to purchase houses is taken up. There are also options for people who are over the income threshold for social housing.

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 until 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness in both urban and rural areas is a key Government priority. The Government and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, considered numerous courses of action in advance of ending the winter moratorium period and they believe that a focus on additional new supply is the best way forward. On 7 March, the Minister announced further measures to increase supply of social homes to mitigate the impact of the end of the winter emergency period. These included an increase in the number of supply of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness; an additional 1,000 homes through targeted leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and the amendment of the capital advanced leasing facility used by AHBs to assist them in their efforts to deliver social homes.

The Government has also recently agreed a number of new measures to give tenants the opportunity to buy or remain in their home, including the development of a legislative provision, which may require that a landlord selling a property offers first right of refusal to a tenant or another designated body. Further details of this will be available in due course. That is on an administrative basis from 1 April. The first home scheme board has also agreed to extend eligibility to this cohort who may wish to purchase their property and is now accepting applications from eligible tenants who have received a notice of termination. The local authority home loan may also be assistance in this regard.

The Department has developed a temporary cost-rental tenant in situscheme, which will see the Housing Agency acquire a home in order that a tenant who has received an order of termination and is at risk of homelessness, and where the household is not on social housing supports, will be enabled to continue residing in the property. The scheme has been operating on an administrative basis since 1 April. The measures outlined apply nationwide, including in rural constituencies and counties.

The Minister has also reiterated the importance of being proactive in acquiring properties where a HAP or RAS tenant has received a notion of termination. He has done this both in correspondence and in person with local authority chief executives at the recent housing summits. The Minister is in regular contact with the County and City Management Association, CCMA, and local authorities to ensure all measures we have put in place over the months and weeks are communicated by local authorities and they are proactive in dealing with families on a case-by-case basis to ensure their housing needs are met.

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