Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this all-important topic. My question is to do with the tenant in situ scheme and how long it takes for the AHBs to complete sales. I have been dealing with a number of people who are trying to avail of the tenantin situscheme. One particular person who comes to mind - and this relates to Limerick City and County Council - applied in April 2023. They informed the council that they were being put out of their home because the lady who owned the property died. The house was tied up in probate and the family of the person who died was selling the house. The council handed the case over to one of the housing agencies. We are now heading into March 2024 and it still has not been completed. Yet this lady has lived in the house for the past 15 years. They have been living in the house for a long time and now find they are at risk of being put out.

The lady who is responsible for selling the property on behalf of the family has an agency working on her behalf and it cannot get in touch with or get a response from the housing agencies.The tenant's family is very vulnerable and she has a son who is doing the leaving certificate and is very upset at the fact they do not know whether they will have a roof over their heads.

I have one or two questions. Have many people been approved for this scheme?I know that when she was approved originally this lady was informed that she was one of the first in Ireland to be approved. How long does the general turnaround of the scheme take? Is there a phone number in the Department or a person who could be allocated in the Department that when a person finds themselves in this situation they have a point of contact?There seems to be no communication between the Housing Agency and the Department in respect of this case.