Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for giving me the opportunity to reply to him on this issue. The Government is providing €325 million in 2025 for local authorities to buy second-hand properties, with a particular focus on the tenant in situ scheme, where tenants in receipt of HAP or RAS receive a notice of termination. While the clear focus of the Government must remain on increasing the supply of new-build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the policy response.

The social housing acquisitions circular that issued to local authorities recently sets out the revised arrangements for second-hand social housing acquisitions in 2025. Under the revised arrangements for second-hand acquisitions in 2025 local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the following priority categories: the tenant in situ scheme; elderly and disabled persons; exits from homelessness; and buy and renew acquisitions that tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help to promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised.

Despite coverage to the contrary, the eligibility criteria for the tenant in situ acquisitions in 2025 are not overly restrictive. The guidance is largely the same as what issued in June 2024 and is not substantially different to what was required in 2023. The Department asked local authorities, as it did in previous years, to ensure that they are responding to a valid notice of termination where there is a real risk of homelessness and to examine all options for the ongoing accommodation of the household before progressing as a last resort with an acquisition. The Department also asked that local authorities give priority to families with children, older persons or people with a disability who are at serious risk of homelessness. However, prioritising households should not be interpreted as excluding any household and the final decision on each individual acquisition rests, as it should, with the local authority.

Since the introduction of the tenant in situ scheme in 2023, a significant number of homes have been acquired. In the period 2023 to 2024, more than 3,300 second-hand acquisitions have been completed, of which more than 2,100 have been tenant in situ acquisitions where tenants in receipt of HAP or RAS had received a notice of termination.

The tenant in situ acquisitions programme was introduced by way of Government decision in 2023. The programme for Government commits to the continuation of tenant in situ acquisitions as an option for local authorities. Currently, there is a strong pipeline for second-hand social housing acquisitions, with more than 700 acquisitions in the pipeline. We have assured all local authorities of our continued support for their acquisitions activity.

To the end of April, local authorities have only drawn down €65 million or 20% of the €325 million which has been allocated for second-hand acquisitions in 2025. I again thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this issue.

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