Rory Hearne
Ceist:232. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to prevent evictions into homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5064/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 22 January 2026
Ceisteanna (232)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government's new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities was published in November 2025. The Plan recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that we face and introduces a number of key measures to address homelessness. Ensuring the implementation of these measures will be a priority for me in 2026.
Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is essential. There are many preventions initiatives already underway in my own Department and across Government. This includes the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. In order to ensure a fully aligned all-of-Government approach under the Plan, we are committing to develop a national Homelessness Prevention Framework within which homelessness can be prevented in a structured and planned way with tailored prevention measures for each potential at risk cohort. This Framework will be in place in 2026.
On 14 October 2025, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025, which is now the subject of priority legal drafting by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. The Bill will amend the current system of rent controls and provide new measures to protect tenants, including stronger security of tenure, to come into effect for new tenancies created on or after 1 March 2026.
Larger landlords (a company and/or a landlord with four or more tenancies) will not have the right to terminate a tenancy in the context of sale; landlord/family member occupation; substantial refurbishment/renovation; or change of use. A larger landlord will have the right to terminate a tenancy where the tenant is breaching tenancy obligations or the property is no longer suitable to the accommodation needs of the tenant household.
To offer greater protection to tenants, rolling 6-year tenancies of minimum duration (TMD) will apply for new tenancies created for the first time between parties on or after 1 March 2026. Such a new tenancy that continues for 6 months becomes a tenancy of unlimited duration, with rolling 6 year TMDs.
Only in limited circumstances during a 6 year TMD, will a smaller landlord (a landlord with 3 tenancies or less) be allowed to end a tenancy. A smaller landlord will also be allowed to terminate a tenancy using the limited grounds under section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (the RTA) at the end of each 6-year period while the tenancy continues to exist
A detailed communications campaign by my Department, in conjunction with the RTB, will continue to publicise the new legislative measures from 1 March 2026. Up-to-date information is available at: Government Reforms to the Rental Sector – Starting 1 March 2026. (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/government-reforms-to-the-rental-sector-starting-1-march-2026/.)
Question No. 233 answered with Question No. 165.