Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he might initiate emergency measures to facilitate the increasing number of families previously renting who are about to become homeless arising from various reasons return of properties to landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49240/23]
View answer255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he might initiate emergency measures for Kildare County Council to facilitate the increasing number of families previously renting who are about to become homeless arising from various reasons return of properties to landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49241/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.
Reducing and preventing homelessness is a priority for Government.
Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities and funding of €218m has been provided this year to support the delivery of homeless services by local authorities and their service delivery partners.
Where a household receives notice of termination from a landlord, local authorities will provide support to the household to identify housing solutions. Where a household is qualified for social housing supports, this will include identifying housing solutions, including an allocation to local authority property or the provision of support to secure a HAP supported property. The Government has also allocated funding to provide for increased levels of social housing acquisitions, with at least 1,500 social acquisitions to be completed this year. The acquisitions are focussed on properties where a social housing tenant has received a notice of termination due to a landlord’s intention to sell the property. The Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model. The current household net income limit for scheme eligibility is €66,000 for Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere. This is in line with the revised income limits for Cost Rental which came into effect from 1 August 2023. Legislation is also being prepared to provide to provide a ‘first right of refusal’ for a tenant to buy his or her rented home if it is for sale. The aim is to publish the Bill before year end 2023.
Increasing housing supply across all tenures is the key to preventing homelessness. My Department continues to prioritise measures which focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new build, targeted acquisitions and leasing. Record state investment of €4.5bn has being made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,100 new build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
