Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach spoke earlier about today's Housing for All update for July. He said it showed that the Government is succeeding in meeting targets. The reality, however, whatever the spin, is that the Government is failing. First, targets are simply too low to meet existing needs. Second, on the most stark metric, we are seeing the figures for homelessness rising, with more than 12,400 people now in emergency accommodation. Today's update announced a public consultation on the private rental sector, but there is nothing concrete in the report to help renters.

Meantime, we heard reports yesterday that there are delays in introducing legislation on the first refusal scheme, a scheme which the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, promised us would be in place by the summer to provide some supports to renters facing homelessness and eviction. Just now, in response to a parliamentary question, the Minister has told me that he has no plans to reinstate the winter eviction ban this winter. Does the Taoiseach accept that the Government is simply failing renters and failing to provide adequate protections for renters? When can he say that the first refusal scheme will be properly in place for renters?

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