Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2025
216. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have any discretion or flexibility in the applying of the criteria for the local authority tenant in-situ-scheme; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66711/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTenancy sustainment, via tenant-in-situ, is a priority category under my Department's Second Hand Acquisitions Programme. It is not a scheme, but a policy tool available to local authorities to prevent social housing supported households in the private rented sector from falling into homelessness. It should only be used as a last resort by local authorities when all other options have been exhausted.
Local authorities have delegated sanction to pursue such acquisitions where the all-in cost of such homes is in line with my department's acquisition cost guidelines. Prior approval may be required where the cost exceeds the guideline costs.
Generally, refurbishment costs are not an eligible cost for tenancy sustainment acquisitions. Extensive repairs or refurbishments should not be required. These properties already benefit from significant Exchequer funded rent supports every week, are legally required to meet the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019, and are inspected by local authorities to ensure they meet such standards.
As part of the decision-making process, local authorities have been asked to prioritise families with dependent children, elderly and disabled persons. That said, prioritising households should not be interpreted as excluding any other category. The final decision on each individual acquisition rests with the local authority having considered the individual circumstances of each case.
I expect the 2026 Second Hand Acquisitions Programme to maintain support for tenancy sustainment. Funding allocations will be agreed and notified to local authorities as early as possible next year, with allocations likely informed by the expected level of demand nationwide, the average cost per home in respective local authority areas and, most importantly, the overall budget available.
In the meantime, local authorities have been authorised to enter into commitments for 2026 to a value of up to 30% of their original 2025 acquisitions budget. This allows them commit, pending an agreed programme budget for next year, some €95 million extra in 2025 for acquisitions that will complete and draw down in 2026. This effectively provides for a multi-annual approach to programme delivery, facilitating local authorities to plan and progress acquisitions from one year to the next with a higher level of certainty vis-à-vis future funding availability.
