Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that given the reintroduction of the tenant-in-situ scheme, he will ensure that the purpose of the scheme is not frustrated by the introduction of new restrictive conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16133/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased that the Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support for Tenant in Situ acquisitions in 2025, following on from similar investments in 2023 and 2024.

I have made €325 million available to our local authorities for their social housing second hand acquisitions activity in 2025 and asked that they prioritise Tenant in Situ acquisitions but have also allowed for other categories of acquisitions, such as urgent responses for disability situations or supporting families to exit from homelessness.

Despite some coverage to the contrary, the eligibility criteria for Tenant in Situ acquisitions in 2025 is not overly restrictive. It is largely the same as guidance issued in June, 2024 and not substantially different to what was required in 2023. We have asked local authorities, as we did in previous years, to ensure that they are responding to a valid Notice of Termination where there is a real risk of homelessness and to examine all options for the ongoing accommodation of the household before progressing with an acquisition. We have also asked that local authorities would give priority to families with children, older persons or people with a disability who are at serious risk of homelessness; however prioritising households should not be interpreted as excluding any household and the final decisions in relation to each individual acquisition rests, as it should, with the local authority.