Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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95. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what provision is being made within the tenant in situ scheme for tenants who are renting a HAP property in one local authority area but receive HAP from, and are therefore on the social housing transfer list with, a different local authority; if he will delay the lifting of the eviction ban until workable solutions are found to this and other issues raised by Opposition Deputies in the eviction ban debate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15540/23]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government why Tipperary County Council is unable to purchase a ground floor two-bedroom apartment at (details supplied) due to the annual management fees associated with the property and the building in which it is located; currently, this property is being sold by the owner and is currently rented for over ten years to an elderly gentleman in his 70s who is in receipt of HAP; the reason the local authority is not permitted to purchase this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/23]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of houses Kerry County Council hase purchased or is in the process of purchasing under the tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15694/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 96 and 105 together.

Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).

The Government agreed on 7 March that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act. The Government has considered a number of courses of action in advance of the ending of the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ and agreed that a focus on additional new supply is the best way forward in dealing with the end of the winter eviction ban in a manner which best protects tenants. This includes a significant increase in the number of social housing acquisitions, in addition to other measures for households that are not qualified for social housing supports.

Under Housing for All, the Government is committed to increasing supply and protecting renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. In this regard, my Department has commenced a review of the Private Rental Sector which will inform Government on the measures which need to be taken to ensure a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland that works for all.

Under Housing for All, there was provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. However, with increased pressures on housing and the exit of landlords from the market, my Department reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories which included:

• One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category; • Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and• Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs.

For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire up to 1,500 social homes and my Department will keep this number under review. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. A circular letter issued to all local authorities on 14 March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023. This allocation will be kept under review. It will be matter for individual local authorities to determine whether a property is suitable for acquisition.

As Minister, I am precluded by housing legislation from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of social housing support regarding any individual application. My Department does not hold any details of the case referred to.

Where a household is on the housing list in one local authority but has secured a HAP tenancy in another local authority area, the arrangements in place will support the acquisition of the property, where appropriate. The City and County Management Association (CCMA) has assured me that local authorities are collaborating on such situations and my Department will work closely with local authorities on this measure.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing acquisitions. This data is available for all local authorities, including Kerry County Council, until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/

Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published shortly. Data published to date does not include a breakdown of properties acquired where a tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. For 2023, an amendment is being made to my Department's statistical returns to collect information in this regard.