Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an cheist seo a phiocadh. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach do Ghaillimh agus do chórais áitiúla ar fud na tíre. Tá an scéim seo ann chun cosaint a thabhairt do thionóntaí atá i dteach agus é ar intinn ag an tiarna talún an teach a dhíol. I gcásanna mar sin, is féidir leis an tiarna talún dul chuig an chóras áitiúil agus an chéad rogha a thabhairt dó an teach a cheannach. Mo léan géar agus faraor géar, de réir mo thuisceana, roimh an Nollaig, cuireadh an scéim seo ar fionraí. Dar leis an údarás i nGaillimh, bhí deireadh leis an scéim. Tá a fhios agam go dtuigeann an tAire Stáit gur chruthaigh sé seo deacrachtaí ollmhóra don chomhairle cathrach agus do na hoifigigh a bhí i mbun conarthaí tithe a chríochnú.

I wish the Minister of State the best in her new career. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. It is extremely important. I have tried to get clarity on it every way I can. I have tabled parliamentary questions and raised it under Questions on Policy or Legislation. I am referring to the tenant in situ scheme that was introduced on 1 April - perhaps that might give us some idea - 2023 as one of the many schemes brought in by the Government to help with the housing crisis. It was meant in particular to protect tenants who were in receipt of HAP, RAS or other payments. If the landlord was selling the house, he or she would give first choice to the council so that the tenant would be protected.

Unfortunately, the council contacted me around 13 or 14 December to say it had been informed verbally by the Department that the scheme had been suspended. That is what we were informed. Then, a press release from the Department to Raidió na Gaeltachta stated that the scheme had not been suspended. After Christmas, contact with the council was resumed and it confirmed it could not proceed with the purchase of a number of properties - 15 units that were in danger - and bring closure to those because the council had been informed by the Department that the tenant in situ scheme had been suspended, not just in Galway city, but in other local authorities as well. There were 15 units ready to close but their purchase was in danger of not being completed due to lack of clarity about the scheme. There were 12 units in one particular place, one unit in another, one in another and so on. Most significantly, 11 units had tenants in situ. If the contracts are not completed, those tenants will be homeless.

Speaking without exaggeration, the housing crisis in Galway is worse than in Dublin. We are dealing with people who have been on a housing waiting list for between 15 and 20 years with little hope. On top of that, we are repeatedly told that the homeless services have no places.

What decision has been made? Has a decision been made to suspend the tenant in situ scheme? If not, will the Minister of State clarify that? If it has been suspended, when will it be reinstated and what targets will be set? We just want clarity urgently, particularly as it relates to the 15 units I cited.

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