Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We always consider the proposals that are put to us by Opposition parties, NGOs and others working in the area of homelessness, as well as, of course, those who build homes – the home builders. For example, we accepted the proposal to introduce a rent credit and that has helped many people with their rent. It is €1,000 for a couple and it is €1,500 for three people renting. We have also accepted other proposals for example in relation to derelict buildings and other proposals in relation to the tenant in situscheme. Therefore, we do listen to suggestions that people put forward. One thing I can say about the eviction ban is that it appears to me to be increasingly clear that it was not a successful policy. For nearly every month that the eviction ban was in place, we saw an increase in homelessness. Last month, unfortunately, we saw a further increase in homelessness but, even with the eviction ban gone, that increase was 1.5%. Those are real people and that is 1.5% too many. The prediction by those who advocated for an eviction ban was that it would bring homelessness down. It did not. They predicted that once the eviction ban was lifted that there would be, to use the quote, “an explosion” in the number of people using emergency accommodation.

We have seen a further increase, which is disappointing, but the rates are not far off what we saw when the eviction ban was in place.

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