Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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183. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will legislate to restrict no-fault evictions. [24573/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government agreed on 7 March 2023 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 at that time considered that extending the emergency period to restrict 'no fault' tenancy terminations from taking effect would be detrimental to medium and long-term supply of private rental accommodation. That position has not changed. My Department and local authorities are instead focusing on implementing the additional measures that I announced in March 2023 to increase the supply of social and affordable homes.

I also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners, giving tenants the opportunity to buy their homes, by requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant. The General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill was approved by Government on 24 October 2023. Priority drafting is now underway with a view to publication of the Bill during this Quarter.

Under Housing for All the Government is committed to increasing supply and protecting renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. My Department is currently finalising a review of the Private Rental sector which will inform Government on a number of potential policy measures which could be taken to support a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland.