Funding cuts to tenant-in-situ scheme putting renters at risk of homelessness – Eoin Ó Broin TD
19 March 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that more renters will be put at risk of being made homeless if the social housing tenant-in-situ scheme is not properly funded.
The Dublin Mid-West TD’s comments were made as he launched Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion, which will be debated this evening, on this vital homeless prevention measure.
The motion urges the government to properly fund the tenant-in-situ scheme and, crucially, allow local authorities maximum flexibility on how it is operated.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
“Since April 2023, the social housing tenant-in-situ scheme has saved around 2500 households from being made homeless.
“Families with children, couples and single people, including pensioners, have been prevented from long stays in emergency accommodation as councils were able to buy their private rental homes.
“But this vital homeless prevention measure continues to face opposition from some within government.
“Since January, this support has been suspended to new applications due to the failure of the outgoing government to agree funding allocations for 2025.
“There is now a real fear among frontline homeless service providers that less funding will be made available in 2025 compared to 2024.
“Worryingly, the Department of Housing is also proposing a series of restrictions to the operation of the scheme, which would result in fewer purchases this year than last.
“These restrictions are unnecessary and unwarranted.
“Any finding cuts to the social housing tenant-in-situ scheme, or restrictions on how it is operated, will put more renters at serious risk of being made homeless.
“Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion urges the Minister for Housing to fully fund the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025, and to allow local authorities the maximum flexibility on how it is operated.
“This is a vital homeless prevention support that is working, and should be allowed to operate as it has done since April 2023.”
