Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
97. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the tenant-in-situ scheme and other homeless prevention measures in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48289/26]
View answerUltimately, increasing housing supply is key to addressing homelessness and ensuring everyone has access to good quality, affordable and secure homes that suit their needs. To this end, my Department will make over €9 billion in capital funding available for housing delivery in 2026.
This will mainly target the delivery of new build homes, including an increase on the record 9,088 new build social homes delivered last year. However, given persistently high levels of homelessness, I have also made available €373 million under the Social Housing Second-Hand Acquisitions programme, prioritising acquisitions that alleviate and prevent homelessness.
I have ringfenced €150 million to support households to exit homelessness into permanent housing, and €157 million for Local Authority Priority Acquisitions, including last resort tenant in situ acquisitions.
In respect of Galway City Council, €6.7 million has been ringfenced for acquisitions that exit households from homelessness. Some €2.8 and €2m is ringfenced for Galway City and Galway County respectively to target Local Authority Priority Acquisitions, including tenant in situ acquisitions that will support households in the most precarious housing situations and where no other options are available.
Critically, tenant in situ acquisitions will continue to be available to local authorities as a last resort option. But, they will never be the sole, or even the primary, option.
The default first options should almost always be securing the sustainment of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the Tenancy Sustainment and Placefinder services, or allocating a local authority or Approved Housing Body tenancy via a new build home or re-let.
Supporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness remains my overriding priority. I continue to meet regularly with local authorities in this regard, pressing them to do all they can, be that maximising social housing allocations for homeless households and those facing imminent homelessness, availing of the scope provided by the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, or increasing the delivery of social housing, which is critical in addressing homelessness.
