# Housing
Yesterday
23rd March 2023
# eviction ban
'Stop the BS': Verona Murphy excoriates govt housing policy after voting against coalition
Becoming emotional while speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Murphy particularly criticised the Government on planning.
# baldoyle
An Bord Pleanála refuses planning permission for over 1,000 north Dublin apartments
Planning permission for 173 residential units for a site near the Co Meath border was also refused.
# No Confidence
Govt facing more eviction ban headaches as Labour and SF prepare motions and new laws
Labour is proceeding with its no-confidence motion, while Sinn Féín proposes new legislation to halt evictions.
# airbnb
Plan to bring 12,000 short-term lets back into rental market delayed by EU Commission decision
The legislation required cannot be enacted until the end of the year.
THE MORNING LEAD
FactCheck: Did the Government miss its social housing targets for three years in a row?
The claim was made in a Dáil debate on the eviction ban.
This week
19th March 2023 - 24th March 2023
# eviction ban
Government wins counter motion vote against extending eviction ban
Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan voted against the government’s counter motion, which passed 83 votes to 68.
# eviction ban
Taoiseach says 'vast majority' of people given eviction notices will find somewhere to live when ban lifts
The Dáil yesterday evening debated a motion which is calling for the eviction ban to be extended until January next year.
# rent a room
Measures to allow social welfare recipients to earn up to €14k a year in rent being extended
Under the measures, social welfare payments are not impacted for earning rental income under €14,000.
# eviction ban
Independent TD Violet-Anne Wynne to break off Dáil pairing to vote against government
Wynne had previously been in an agreement with Helen McEntee, who is on maternity leave, that she would not vote in McEntee’s absence.
# eviction ban
Celebrities and activists call on government to keep eviction ban in new campaign
Bressie, Mario Rosenstock and Fr Peter McVerry are among those featured in #KeeptheBan.
Last week
12th March 2023 - 18th March 2023
# Washington DC
Taoiseach says we've yet to turn the corner on the housing crisis, rules out reopening budget
Micheál Martin says a corner has been turned on housing.
# CSO
Property prices rise by 6.1% with regional areas rising faster than Dublin
Households paid a median of €305,000 for a residential property in the 12 months to January 2023.
# Housing Crisis
Cork eviction ban meeting told of woman, 78, given notice to quit after 63 years in family home
People facing eviction were present at the meeting, including a man who said he doesn’t know what to tell his six-year-old.
# eviction ban
Sinn Féin motion to call for eviction ban to be extended to January 2024
Speaking to reporters in New York last night, Mary Lou McDonald said her party will move the motion today.
# Housing
'We have turned a corner': Pre-budget tax breaks for renters and landlords dismissed by Tánaiste
The Tánaiste said a corner has been turned on housing.
# Housing Crisis
Lorcan Sirr: 'The proportion of houses coming to market has reduced by 43.5% in 5 years'
Housing lecturer Lorcan Sirr said it shows ‘we’re still not building the type of housing that we need’.
This month
March 2023
# fact find
FactFind: How effective was the eviction ban in reducing homelessness?
Government claims that the eviction ban has not reduced homelessness have been met with strong criticism.
# Housing Crisis
Nearly 5,000 eviction notices were served on tenants between July and September last summer
The rental sector is under scrutiny in the wake of the government’s decision not to extend the eviction ban.
# Housing
Varadkar says he doesn't believe reimposing the eviction ban would reverse rising homeless numbers
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said the decision to end the ban was ‘cruel and heartless’.
# Dáil row
'You can't handle the answers': Tempers flare as FG and SF clash over eviction ban
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald were involved in a war of words this afternoon.
# eviction ban
Varadkar: 'Demonisation' of landlords caused rent hikes and reduced housing supply
The Taoiseach said that over 40,000 landlords have left the rental market in recent years.
# eviction ban
Extending eviction ban would reduce number of rental properties even more, says O'Brien
The Housing Minister formally announced today that the eviction moratorium will be lifted from 31 March
# Housing
Government to fund 405 beds for disadvantaged students in DCU
The Cabinet has approved €41 million to fund the accommodation.
# eviction ban
Landlords selling property will have to give tenant option to buy under new scheme
The First Home Scheme is to be amended to include tenants who wish to buy the property when their landlord is selling up.
# Housing
Varadkar defends ending eviction ban as Opposition TDs slam 'heartless' decision
The three coalition party leaders met with the housing minister yesterday evening, with Cabinet now discussing the measure.
Coalition leaders and the Housing Minister decided at a meeting last night to lift the eviction ban as planned on 31 March.
Opposition politicians and housing activists have condemning the move.
Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Bróin said the decision 'will mean more adults, children & pensioners will become homeless from April'.
# Housing
Coalition leaders agree to lift eviction ban as planned on 31 March
It’s understood that Cabinet will discuss the moratorium on evictions coming to an end as planned on 31 March.
Voices
Analysis: Is Holly Cairns correct about her generation being worse off than their parents?
Despite black-and-white arguments on Twitter about that question, the reality is much more complicated, writes economist Ciarán Casey.
# Your Say
Poll: Do you think the eviction ban should be extended?
Cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss whether to extend, amend or lift the ban.
# Refugees
€20m signed off on for refugee accommodation plans, with commercial properties being considered
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said it is“impossible to say” whether the plan is enough.
# Housing
AirBnb claims 'everyday families' rent out their homes for much-needed income
An upcoming property register is a barrier to income families “cannot afford to lose”, Airbnb says.
Last month
February 2023
# Renting
Government's mind is still not made up on whether to extend the eviction ban
Minister Heather Humphreys has reaffirmed that the government still deciding whether it will pursue an extension.
# Homelessness
Government still deciding on extending eviction ban for fear of 'making matters worse'
Jack Chambers said that extending the ban could lead to a surge in landlords leaving the market and evicting tenants when the ban eventually ends.
# rental crisis
'Demonised' landlords should get tax breaks if linked to better renters' rights, says Varadkar
A number of bodys have recommended changes to the tax treatment of landlords.
# whoops
'Rookie error': Evictions ban proposal progresses as junior minister forgets to oppose bill
Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell forgot to oppose the bill at the end of the debate today.
# Housing Crisis
'The situation is getting worse and worse': PBP warn of homeless spike if eviction ban lapses
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett called for the Government to support the eviction ban bill.
# Housing
Ireland should follow Denmark and require vacant properties to be rented out, Varadkar advised
The NESC report suggests an NCT-style system could be set up for rental properties to ensure minimum standards.
# Housing
Property prices continue to rise but rate of increase is slowing
New data from the CSO on property prices was published today.
# Housing Crisis
Landlords should get tax breaks in return for longer tenancies, Taoiseach advised
The report into the private rental sector is due to be published today.
# Asylum Seekers
Refugees from 'safe' countries must have their cases heard fairly, says immigration lawyer
Junior Minister Sean Fleming also said that people coming from countries deemed safe may have genuine reason to seek asylum.
# rising costs
Minister indicates targeted and universal cost-of-living measures on the cards as talks intensify
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he plans to make announcement about new and extended cost-of-living measures in mid-February.
