Tipperary TD Michael Lowry is expecting that Housing Minister Darragh O‘Brien will deliver on 8 key demands from the Rural Independents in respect of the housing crisis.
Deputy Lowry says Sinn Fein cannot be faulted for putting forward a motion calling for the eviction ban to be restored but notes that the main opposition’s motion does not offer credible solutions to increase housing supply.
Due to a combination of circumstances such as allowing developers to avoid the requirement to provide a portion of social houses, the state stopping building social houses, the financial crash, supporting refugees and the increase in input costs the level of supply falls well short of the demand for social, affordable and rental housing according to Deputy Lowry.
Tipperary county council have purchased 44 homes where the existing tenant is eligible for housing support and has received a Notice to Quit.
A further 29 purchases are in progress.
In all approximately 120 tenants on State housing supports in county Tipperary have received Notice to Quit from their landlord.
Deputy Lowry is hopeful that no one being evicted will become homeless as Tipperary County Council is working with Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust and other approved housing bodies to secure extra emergency accommodation.
The Thurles based TD says the Government should have put mitigation measures in place before announcing that the eviction ban will end at the end of March.
