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Dublin City Council voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday night last to support a Sinn Féin motion calling on the government to reinstate the eviction ban which is due to end at midnight tonight.
Cllr Daithí Doolan, SF spokesperson for housing in Dublin, said:
“It was hugely significant that Dublin City Council voted overwhelmingly to support a Sinn Féin motion calling on the government to reinstate the eviction ban.
“Government parties could only muster eight votes to oppose this important motion. “The government decision to overturn the eviction ban is a cold, cruel, calculated decision. It punishes the most vulnerable for a housing crisis that has been caused by consecutive Governments failed policies.
“Wednesday’s vote sends a very loud, clear message to our government. Ireland’s largest local authority demands that Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien do the right thing and immediately reinstate the eviction ban.”
However, earlier today on RTÉ’s ‘Morning Ireland’, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport stated the eviction ban would be lifted tonight.
When the question was put to him that thousands of homeowners had already received notice to quit, and many were distraught with no hope of finding any affordable accommodation in the area, the Minister cited the Tenant in Situ Scheme would come into affect.
Tenant in Situ Scheme
If you are a social housing tenant and your private landlord wants to sell the home you are renting, the local authority can buy the home via the Tenant in Situ Scheme.
You can continue to rent it then from the local authority instead. It is aimed at people who are getting the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or are part of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and whose landlords are leaving the rental market.
But how long with the process of application take? Is the budget there to cope with the high numbers in Dublin alone who have received notice to quit? And what happens to low income renters who are not in receipt of HAP and cannot afford higher rents for private accommodation. Previously, Cllr Doolan stated: “This government must stop punishing vulnerable people for the housing crisis. Homeless services are already over stretched. The ending of the eviction ban will put these services under further pressure.“Our government should be focusing now on reforming the overly bureaucratic procurement process and provide funding for a public housing building programme to meet the housing needs of Dublin.”
