James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. As my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, has stated, it is a clear focus of the Government to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and preventing, and ultimately eliminating, long-term homelessness. This being said, I would like to assert the Government's commitment to the continuation of the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme and, in particular, more focus in targeting tenant in situ acquisitions. It is important to note that tenant in situ acquisitions are part of a wider acquisitions programme for social housing, including acquisitions for older persons and persons with a disability, exits from homelessness services and buying or renewing acquisitions which tackle vacancy.

I am acutely aware of the potential situation being faced by households in receipt of social housing supports under HAP and RAS who receive no-fault notice of termination. As a Government we understand the urgency and the need to ensure these tenants are prevented from entering homelessness. We will continue to work with local authorities to address these challenges and implement policies that will make a positive difference. The Government recognises the importance of tenant in situ acquisitions as a key measure in preventing homelessness. We also recognise how these acquisitions possibly benefit vulnerable tenants who receive a no-fault notice of termination from their landlord.

Since the extension of the acquisitions programme, officials from the Department have engaged with local authorities to ensure these updated measures are communicated clearly and promptly to local authority staff. These engagements are focused on ensuring the efficient continuation of targeted acquisitions by local authorities. I want to be clear in reasserting the commitment of the Government to the acquisitions programme and I have pointed out how the actions carried out to date demonstrate this commitment very clearly.

While there is still much to do, the Sinn Féin motion and Opposition input this evening do not fairly represent the efforts and progress made to date. The motion asserts the acquisitions programme was suspended and is intentionally being restricted. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, highlighted at the outset, since 2020 almost 7,000 homes have been acquired. Just over 3,100 homes were acquired between 2023 and the third quarter of 2024. These numbers clearly highlight the success of the acquisitions programme as a key measure in preventing homelessness and make clear that such acquisitions were not suspended at any time. I also note that the Government has provided funding for the continuation of the programme in 2025 to ensure momentum can be maintained.

In 2025 the programme is supported by funding of €325 million, and the provision of a capital funding allocation to each local authority will promote best practice and result in greater flexibility in the response to these local needs. This flexibility will enable local authorities to decide on the most appropriate action to prevent homelessness in each case. These measures further demonstrate the Government's commitment to addressing and preventing homelessness through tenant in situ acquisitions. In addition to the funding provided, the Government aims to further improve the operation of the programme, ensuring it is fair and accessible to those most in need. The addition of eligibility criteria will provide greater focus and target our most vulnerable tenants, such as families, older persons, persons with a disability and people exiting homelessness.

The motion claims the introduction of eligibility criteria would exclude certain cohorts but I refute this claim and I reiterate that the introduction of these criteria will provide a more focused and targeted programme to benefit the most vulnerable in our society, which must be welcomed. This being said, it is important to note these criteria do not exclude any tenant who has been served with a notice to quit. It should also be noted that the first response of local authorities is to work with these tenants to assess all available options to prevent the threat of homelessness. The increased flexibility provided under the arrangements for 2025 ensures local authorities are in a position to respond to local needs and to support not only priority category acquisitions but also single persons and couples without children. The Government is committed to providing a targeted, fair and equitable programme to ensure the availability of these benefits for those most in need.

Some of the mental gymnastics from the Opposition are quite extraordinary. Sinn Féin's housing policy from November 2024 proposes reducing the tenant in situ acquisitions programme down to 800 over the coming years. Nobody from Sinn Féin highlighted this today but there is a clear intention to reduce it. I do not understand the difficulty Sinn Féin has with insisting that landlords be registered with the RTB - surely this is good policy - or with the property being up to standard. These are properties that are being let out by landlords. What is Sinn Féin's difficulty with ensuring these landlords keep these properties up to proper standards? What is Sinn Féin's problem with prioritising children, people with disabilities and older people? This is what it is objecting to in its motion.

The Labour Party went to more extraordinary lengths to try to make a point. It wants tax breaks for these landlords, even where these landlords might be operating outside of the Residential Tenancies Board. This was an extraordinary statement from the Labour Party. It is a pity its Members did not wait to hear the response but I will not go there.

In supporting the countermotion I reassert that the intended review of the second-hand acquisitions programme, which will be carried out in 2025, will aim to build on progress to date and further improve the programme by way of appropriate policymaking.

We will continue to work tirelessly to address these challenges and implement policies that will make a positive difference.

I reassert the Government's commitment to a targeted programme and to highlight that this programme is already addressing the concerns raised. The progress made to date provides evidence of the effectiveness of the second-hand acquisitions, and by implementing the improved arrangements for 2025, this Government aims to build on this success. The Government is clear in its commitment to the core principle that everybody should have access to a home. We accept there is more to do but as my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has already said, the Government is fully dedicated to addressing the housing crisis through the necessary measures, which include the continuation of the tenant in situ acquisitions. It remains a priority for this Government to prevent homelessness and help those in emergency accommodation to exit as soon as possible. We will continue to work with the local government sector to maintain progress, and I look forward to working with everyone in this Chamber to ensure continued success.

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