Government presiding over highest level of evictions since the Famine
Government presiding over highest level of evictions since the Famine - The Labour Party
- Labour to introduce emergency eviction ban bill.
- Minister must restore tenant in situ scheme.
Labour Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan has said that the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-Lowry Government are presiding over the highest level of evictions since the Great Famine.
Deputy Sheehan was speaking after the latest RTB data revealed that the number of evictions notices issued rose by 41% in the last three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“In 2025 the RTB data confirms that 20,033 people received Notices of Termination in 2025, that is a 21.07% increase over the total figure for 2024 which was 16,546. This is a direct result of Minister Browne’s botched rental reforms. That is the entire population of Swords that received a notice of termination in 2025. This is completely unsustainable. We have had four confirmed mass evictions in 2026 alone with more yet to come and the Government are sitting back and facilitating this with their rent hike bill.
“3,226 Notices of Termination alone were issued in Q4 of 2025 because the landlord was selling the property, yet the Minister has tied the hands of local authorities by restricting the vital tenant in situ scheme.
“We need this Government to commit to an eviction ban immediately without delay. That over 5,200 eviction notices were sent in Quarter 4 2025 is terrifying. Renters need emergency protections against Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s rental disaster. Labour intends to introduce an emergency three year no fault eviction ban bill and I am calling on Government to support this to protect renters.
“With such a disfunctional rental market, more and more private renters are going to face the appalling vista of being evicted directly into homelessness. Government must take action now. Renters need protections from evictions.
“These latest figures come in the context of a housing market that is deeply dysfunctional – with rents increasing by more than 100% over the past decade, and almost 50% since Covid alone. Renters have been swindled for years in the housing market, and now they have ben utterly abandoned by Government in the middle of a housing emergency.
“It’s clear that the sweeping changes to rental laws has caused untoward damage. Renters are confused and no representative from this Government has been able to explain the details of the changes without extensive briefing notes before them. There is no time to delay. Government needs to support my Bill and reverse the changes to the vital tenant in situ scheme to protect renters now.”