Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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18. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to reverse the decision to restrict eligibility and funding for the tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/25]

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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This question relates to the tenant in situ scheme, which we discussed last night. Will the Minister reconsider the framing and limitations he is putting on the scheme? While it is welcome that he is committing to continuing with the scheme, this will not actually involve a continuation of the scheme that has been in place because the new limitations will change the nature of it.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Tenant in situ acquisitions were introduced by Government in 2023 in response to a reported uplift in sales by landlords under the HAP and RAS schemes. Such acquisitions have been an important measure in preventing homelessness. The Government therefore agreed to continue the programme in 2025. My Department has notified local authorities about the extension of the programme. A circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly.

The introduction of additional eligibility criteria for acquisitions this year is to ensure that priority categories such as tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons and people exiting homelessness can benefit in an equitable manner from the second-hand acquisitions programme. Under revised arrangements for 2025, local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for priority categories, namely, tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons and people exiting homelessness, as well as buy and renew acquisitions that tackle vacancy.

The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to the needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised. The tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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While I appreciate that the Minister is committing to continuing the scheme, will he provide the evidence to back up why he is targeting it? Why is it not being provided on a general basis in order to give local authorities the flexibility and funding to respond to whatever household is facing eviction or homelessness? Why does it have to be only families? Why is the Minister saying-----

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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It is not only families.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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I know, but prioritisation means local authorities will have to decide. Local authorities will have a certain budget and will be able to purchase properties and keep some people in their homes, but not others. We are in this system of prioritisation rather than a general ability to apply the scheme. That means restricting some local authorities in their ability to do it.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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We had a discussion about this matter last night. I mentioned that there are 17 applicants on ice in Waterford at the moment. That is 17 families dealing with anxiety. It is also 17 landlords who are considering pulling out and going to the open market. This signal being sent from the Department is to dissuade applicants. Local authorities are not encouraging people to make applications, but rather the opposite. A clear message is being sent out to landlords to go to the open market and not to engage with the local authority on this. That is leading to an increase in the risk of homelessness. This needs to be addressed again.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We still have not had a proper rationale as to why the Minister has decided to curtail this scheme. Now that single people are excluded from it, and we know single people are not moving on the housing list at the speed we would like due to the shortage of available units, can the Minister outline what new measures the Government will be bringing forward to stop them from entering homelessness and emergency accommodation? This is a major issue.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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It is not true that the tenant in situ scheme is being continued as it was. There has been a change to it. In the context of the removal of the funding for refurbishment, will the Minister reconsider this and, in the context of the circular that is to be issued, allocate local authorities funding for refurbishment under the scheme?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In fairness, I think I was supposed to respond before Deputy Hearne, so if he wants to speak after me again, I have no difficulty with that. With the tenant in situ scheme, we believe that criteria need to be applied to it. It was introduced as a temporary measure. It is there as a last resort to prevent people from going into homelessness. I responded to all of this last night. It is somewhat frustrating that no one from the Labour Party or the Social Democrats was there last night for my response. Perhaps the two Deputies are now learning that, due to the pressures in the Oireachtas, there are many times when we cannot be in the Chamber every single moment. Anyway, we will leave it at that.

I answered the question. Single people are not excluded. Putting the contrary out there is complete misinformation. I would be concerned that single people would not apply for the scheme because of the misinformation being put out there by both Deputies. There is flexibility in it. Like so many other schemes, there is a prioritisation being applied. That happens with local authorities for social housing schemes as well. We are prioritising families, older people and people with disabilities. I do not understand why the Deputies have an issue with prioritising the most vulnerable.