Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and small landlords. They are interrelated. We need supply and I do not think it serves any purpose to reduce the supply of rental accommodation for renters.

Any merit in introducing an eviction ban in the short term would be countered in the medium to long term by a significantly reduced housing supply for rent. Landlords would continue to exit the market and the signal would be to avoid any further investment in the sector. Research by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland indicates a net loss of 13,500 existing rental units last year alone. We need to retain small landlords in the sector while increasing housing stock for purchase and rent by private renters, cost renters and social renters, supporting home ownership and scaling up student-specific accommodation and cost rental and the transfer of a proportion of short-term lets to longer term rentals.

Under Housing for All, the Government is committed to increase supply and protect renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. On the updated Housing for All action plan which includes action 2.1, review the operation of the private rental sector and report on policy considerations ahead of budget 2024, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is finalising this review and the party leaders are discussing the composition of budget 2024.

My Department’s review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years and the Government will consider and act on its recommendations. The review will draw conclusions on how our housing system could provide an efficient, viable, affordable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants. The public consultation element of this review includes targeted engagement with various stakeholders. A stakeholder engagement forum was held on 6 July 2023 and a public consultation submission form went live on the Department’s website on Monday, 26 July 2023. The closing date for submissions was extended to 8 August 2023 arising from feedback received at the forum. As I said, the report detailing the findings of the review is being finalised.

The review is essential in properly planning future policy for the residential rented sector, including implementing measures to support both landlords and tenants. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, is actively working with colleagues across Government to put together a comprehensive new budgetary package of effective measures for both tenants and landlords.

While the Government opposes the motion tabled for debate, I would like to address some of the points raised. The July 2023 monthly homeless report was published on Friday, 25 August 2023 and showed 12,847 people were accessing State-funded emergency accommodation, an increase of 2% on June 2023. I accept that figure is way too high. One person in homelessness is too much. People present to our local authorities as homeless for a number of reasons, including receipt of a notice of termination in respect of their rented home, relationship breakdowns and the occurrence of domestic violence.

During the second quarter of this year, a combined total of 1,572 adults, as well as their dependants, exited or were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created, an increase of 18% on the same period last year. It is important to note that people are continuously leaving emergency accommodation for more permanent arrangements and that a majority of households in State-funded emergency accommodation, 64%, have been in such facilities for 12 months or fewer, with a significant proportion accessing emergency accommodation for six months or fewer, 43%, as of June 2023.

There is no shortage of will or determination on the part of the Government or bodies to deal with the issue of homelessness. It is our top priority. Resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts being made and required. Increasing housing supply across all tenures is the key to addressing homelessness. Last month saw commencement notices for 2,770 new homes were received by building control authorities. There were 21,316 homes commenced in the first eight months of 2023, a 14% increase. The Government is focused on accelerating social and affordable housing supply. There is record State investment of €4.5 billion, and I want to cover everything so I will not go through that.

Not all notices of termination result in an eviction or in a presentation to homelessness services. I understand the absolute anxiety of people when served a notice of termination.

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