A MOTHER recovering from a serious illness, who has a child with special needs, is among tenants in Limerick staring down the barrel at eviction with nowhere else to go.
Speaking at the March meeting of the Metropolitan District, Independent Councillor Ursula Gavan called on Limerick City and County Council to engage with the Department of Housing to determine the status of the Tenant in Situ Scheme.
The delays from the department, she told Council management, are causing unnecessary stress for landlords, tenants, and Council staff.
“A scheme devised to alleviate homelessness in the housing emergency is now leading to it as a direct result of inaction by the Housing Minister James Browne,” Cllr Gavan insisted.
The Independent councillor said the Tenant In Situ Scheme was “one of the few schemes which was actually working”.
“Local authorities are able to buy properties in situations where tenants are facing eviction, but only if tenants are availing of supports such as HAP (Housing Assistance Payment). Purchase of homes for tenants under the threat of eviction stalled as the new government delayed a decision about continuing this, designed to protect these vulnerable tenants,” she said.
What is more worrying, Gavan stated, is news that the scheme is going to see cuts in funding for the coming year.
“Of most concern is the decision by Minister Browne to allocate zero funding for refurbishment of any homes purchased under the scheme without funding for refurbishment. The Council’s hands will be tied further, in many cases preventing purchasing to actually take place.
“To take this decision at any time shows incredibly poor judgement, but to do so in the worst housing crisis since the inception of the state, beggars belief,” she hit out.
The Independent councillor said that “we’re not dealing with just numbers here, but distressed families who need answers and action”.
“I know of one local constituent whose landlord recently pulled out of the scheme due to the delays. She is very distressed as her eviction is imminent. She has a son with special needs and she is recovering from a serious illness. She has sold off her household furniture as she has no place to go and she no means of storing them.
“Enough is enough. We need action,” Cllr Gavan declared.
Seconding the motion, Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey-O’Mara told Council members that he is working with one family who have three weeks before they are evicted.
“They are waiting for months to find out whether their house is going to be bought by the local authority. In November, they were told, ‘but sure, there’s an election coming, we can’t do anything’,” Cllr Hickey-O’Mara claimed.
The City North representative said he didn’t care who got credit for getting this scheme back up and running, as he urged Fianna Fáil councillors “with the keys to the kingdom” to push for it.
Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler deemed the scheme a “victim of its own success”.
He was of the view that it has transformed families’ lives and praised Council staff for being very “empathetic” towards people who are currently stuck in a vacuum.
Cllr Gavan, while acknowledging the work done by Council staff, hit back at Cllr Butler over what she considered government inaction since the general election last November.
