Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Homeless accommodation in Galway city and county is full. This means that at least two councils cannot provide accommodation in cases of emergency. At the same time, if somebody is trying to get a HAP property in Galway city or county, it is nearly to impossible to find one. If somebody in Galway city or county gets an eviction notice, what is the option available to him or her? He or she can hope that he or she can get something under the tenant in situ scheme, which is something that has worked in Galway city and county. However, significant numbers of people are now in limbo.

I was contacted by a woman tonight who wrote to me about her case. I will read it out because it shows the pressure she is under. She states:

Mairéad a chara, I am contacting you directly as I am under huge pressure to ascertain where the application under the tenant in situ scheme stands for the purchase of the property I'm renting. My landlord has made an application to sell the property under the tenant in situ scheme for some time and is being frustrated by the lack of progress and has decided to put the house up for sale on the open market. My notice of termination expired in early January and I am fearful that the house will be sold in the very near future. I understand that there was an issue with the council receiving its budget allocation for 2025 but I hope that this has been resolved at this stage. If the house is not purchased under this scheme, it will be an incredible pity as the house would be a very good investment especially in such a rural area. On a personal level, this is absolutely devastating for myself and my young son as we are facing homelessness.

There is nowhere for people in Galway city and county to go because the authorities there do not have the necessary emergency accommodation and rental properties. In this very rural area, which is part of Connemara, there is literally nowhere to go. There are concerns about the memo that was sent out in terms of the amount of funding that would be there and the particular restrictions. I urge the Minister to consider all of this - consider what this woman is saying - when he makes his decision.

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