Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The housing crisis is an absolute disaster. The Taoiseach spoke about homelessness earlier. I want to raise this issue. It is very clear from the data that the main cause of homelessness is evictions from the private rental sector. There is no lack of clarity in the figures on that. Some 30,000 households have been evicted since the Government linked lifted the eviction ban in 2023. However, one of the key measures in response to that is the tenant in situ scheme. I have been contacted by constituents from Dublin North West, including one from Santry, a mother with three children at immediate risk of homelessness. She has lived in her home for the past seven years with her children and is in receipt of the housing assistance payment. We contacted Dublin City Council, which did not mention tenant in situ as one of the responses to this case. It is clear that Dublin City Council and other councils across the country do not have the funding for the tenant in situ scheme to prevent families like this mother and her children from becoming homeless.

How does the Government think it is appropriate that we allow this scale of homelessness? Will the Government fund the tenant in situ scheme properly? Does the Government feel it is appropriate that a person who caused homelessness and stood over the evictions of properties - the Taoiseach can raise his eyes to heaven-----

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