INDEPENDENT councillor Ursula Gavan has urged Limerick County Council (LCCC) to call on Government to reinstate the No Fault Eviction ban in light of the worsening of the housing emergency and increasing homelessness across the country.
The ban was introduced briefly from October 2022 to March 2023, and whilst it was hoped to reduce homeless numbers, it was acknowledged even by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to have failed.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the local authority, Cllr Gavan pointed out to the council executive that we now have homeless figures of 15,000 and Notice to Quit (NTQ) of 16,000 (2024), and a rental market that has collapsed.
“Since the lifting of the ban we have seen homelessness figures reach new high, rents have surpassed Celtic Tiger Levels, Government spending on emergency accommodation has risen exponentially, Government building targets have fallen short of what is required and its Tenant In Situ scheme is also been curtailed,” the City East representative declared.
Cllr Gavan went onto call for security of tenure for renters during the worst housing emergency in the history of the State.
“As rents sky rocket and housing targets aren’t met renters are increasingly at the whim of the private market.”
Cllr Gavan continued: “Until supply is increased drastically or Government policy shifts it is incumbent on Government to reinstate the No Fault Eviction ban as a first step in a new approach to housing policy. This government is choosing to put the needs of the market over the needs of people. The refusal to protect vulnerable families from eviction is a political decision taken in a housing emergency that will cause even higher levels of homelessness.”
