Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's question is a very serious one and it is on the issue that this Government will be judged on. I have some statistics from the Department, but on the Deputy's specific question, I am not aware of the tenant in situ scheme being suspended. I will share with the Deputy the information I have with me. If it does not have specific details relating to her question, I will bring it to the attention of the Department to try to get clarity for her.

Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022 to 2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and AHBs. Under Housing for All, there is provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. In 2023, however, following the lifting of the temporary eviction ban and a reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes in the HAP and rental accommodation schemes, the Government introduced a temporary measure - the tenant in situ acquisitions scheme - in order to mitigate the risks of homelessness arising for tenants being supported by HAP or RAS.

A key objective of the programme is to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. All available options should be considered in order to prevent homelessness up to and including acquisition.

The Deputy's specific question was on Galway local authority and she stated that it had verbally confirmed to her that the scheme had been suspended since, I believe, 2023.

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