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

On the ability of a local authority to breach the rent pressure zone rules, the ability to renegotiate a rent that breaches the rules is not there. As the Deputy knows, we are looking at that and at what will replace RPZs, which have been extended to the end of 2025. It will be a big job for the next government to look at what protections will be brought in in the future.

It is important to again state that a local authority can purchase a home that is larger than the number of occupants, for example, a three-person family in a three-bedroom home, on the basis that they may be reallocated in future. I have had it the other way around, where there is a large family and the home is over-occupied. The options may be very slim for them or restrictive as to where they would go. Local authorities have the ability to do that. In some instances, a local authority could say to the tenant that it is purchasing the home, that he or she will not be there forever, and that it will wait until that tenant is reallocated.

On the options Deputy Durkan spoke of, I have been clear with local authorities to look at all options when a notice of termination comes forward, especially in relation to allocation of new social homes. Sometimes, someone can be quite high up the list but might be just outside the offer zone. He or she can get an offer now. That can be accelerated and can be done. I have seen that happening as well. We need to keep an eye on this scheme and continue to manage it.

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