Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when communication to the councils can be expected as to when the tenant in situ scheme will reopen, along with the eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12406/25]

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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53. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to further review the eligibility and funding for the tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12937/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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78. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will abolish the restrictions on the tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12671/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the second-hand acquisitions programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12878/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 53, 78 and 81 together.

Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 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 such acquisitions 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.

Tenant in Situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025.

My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the second hand acquisitions programme and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. In the interim, my Department has been updating local authorities during individual engagements and plenary discussions. These engagements help provide clarity and ensure consistency across the sector.

The introduction of additional eligibility criteria for acquisitions in 2025 is to ensure that priority categories such as tenant in situ, older persons, disabled persons and exits from homelessness can benefit in an equitable manner and provide flexibility to local authorities under 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; tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons, exits from homelessness and Buy and Renew acquisitions which 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 needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised.

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.

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.