Ban no-fault evictions before more families lose their homes
Ban no-fault evictions before more families lose their homes - The Labour Party
Labour Party Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has called on Government to introduce an emergency ban on no-fault evictions and urgently implement measures to reduce homelessness, following record levels of notices of termination and a continued rise in homelessness.
Speaking in the Dáil at Leaders’ Questions today, Deputy Sheehan challenged the Tánaiste to outline what concrete action Government will take before the summer recess to stem the growing homelessness crisis. He warned that the Government’s recent rental reforms have failed to provide the certainty and stability promised and are instead contributing to rising evictions and homelessness.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“Families are living with enormous uncertainty as record numbers of renters face the prospect of losing their homes, while thousands of children remain trapped in homelessness. The latest figures show more than 7,000 notices of termination were issued in the first three months of this year alone, a 51% increase on the same period last year and the highest level ever recorded. At the same time, 5,604 children are officially without a home. These are not abstract statistics. They represent children growing up in emergency accommodation and families living with constant insecurity.
“The Tánaiste’s response in the Dáil today was deeply disappointing. Rather than addressing the reality facing renters and homeless families, he chose to double down on the Government’s position and continue blaming local authorities. He again claimed that the rental legislation introduced earlier this year got the balance right, despite overwhelming evidence that homelessness and evictions are moving in the wrong direction. Most concerningly, he failed to outline any specific measures the Government intends to take before the summer recess.
“Government also has other tools available to it. It should move quickly to enact legislation regulating short-term lets and help return homes currently operating as de facto hotels back into long-term housing supply. It should finally progress measures that place the best interests of children at the centre of local authority decision-making when families present as homeless.
“Labour is calling for an emergency ban on no-fault evictions and the immediate implementation of measures to prevent homelessness before more families are pushed into crisis. No child should spend a single night without a home. Families deserve better, and this Government must act now.”