Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funding has been allocated to local authorities in 2025 to continue the acquisition of properties under the tenant-in-situ scheme; if so, the amount allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8887/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Tenant in Situ Acquisitions Programme was introduced by way of Government decision in 2023. It was originally intended as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants.

A further Government decision extended the programme into 2024 with approval granted for 1,300 Tenant in Situ acquisitions in addition to the 200 priority acquisitions target for 2024 contained in Housing for All.

It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. Local authorities take appropriate steps to ensure that their first response will be to support households to prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served with a notice of termination by their landlord. A local authority will assess the options available in each case and decide the appropriate action.

A decision on a Tenant in Situ Acquisitions Programme for 2025 is expected to be made by Government shortly and will be notified to local authorities thereafter.