On Tuesday, the Taoiseach said in this Chamber that he could not understand how €20 million had already been allocated for Cork City Council for the tenant in situ scheme. He could not understand where the money was. He did not doubt its sincerity, but he could not understand what had happened. That is a shocking admission from a Taoiseach. Let us lay out the facts here today. Cork City Council purchased 173 homes last year, eight more than it was originally sanctioned for. It received sanction for 50% more in June and was allowed to proceed. The Department sanctioned eight extra units. That meant 135 homes were purchased and closed in 2024, with an additional 38 homes bringing the total to 173 homes agreed and approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage at the end of last year. This saved 100 children and 134 adults from becoming homeless, equal to 40% of Cork City Council's homeless prevention measures. This year, the Government provided €20 million. From that, €5.5 million has already been spent on 135 houses purchased last year and a further €12.7 million is needed to complete the purchase of 38 homes by the end of last year. An additional €3.5 million is needed for the refurbishment of the homes purchased last year. Despite €20 million in funding, Cork City Council has a deficit of €1.7 million. The problem is that the council agreed to buy 33 homes and notified families and landlords that they would do so. Families now face homelessness. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach yesterday. I asked him a question and want to ask the Minister of State a straight question. Is the Government going to provide money to Cork City Council to purchase 33 homes for the 33 families who will be homeless in the next week or two? It is a straight question and I am looking for a straight answer. This is not for me. This is for the people I represent in Cork who are at risk of homelessness. They will have to tell their children over the weekend or next week that they will become homeless because the Government decided to cut funding for the tenant in situ scheme. We told the Government this in March when we debated our Private Members' Bill and asked that the tenant in situ scheme be saved. The scheme works. It is one of the few things the Government did right. Tenants want houses to be purchased, landlords are willing to sell and local authorities want to purchase them. The only problem is that the Government will not provide the money. This is happening at a time when the country is awash with money and we have billions of euro to do this. Cork City Council did its job and what the local authority was supposed to do. It should be commended for it. The Government did not do its job because it is not providing the funding. I was contacted by a woman who works in the public sector and does not want to speak out publicly because of her job. She will be homeless. Imagine that she will have to go into a government job and tell her colleagues that she and her daughter will be homeless because the tenant in situ scheme is gone. This is a straightforward question. Before the Minister of State names everything that the Government is going to do and what it has spent, I want to ask him one question. Is this Government going to give the money to Cork City Council to save those 33 families from homelessness? Yes or no?
Sentiment score: 0.04
The Minister of State is wrong. It is not continuing. We have a letter from Cork City Council from 4 April, stating that the tenant in situ scheme has stopped in Cork City Council. We have tenants who went into the council, looking for the forms to apply, and the council would not even give them the forms. It said that it has no money left. I read out where all the money has gone. The Minister of State gave me an answer about €20 million. The €20 million is gone. There is no point talking about money that is spent. There are homes there. I spoke about a lady who was mentioned at a special meeting in Cork City Council on Tuesday at which every councillor in Cork supported a Sinn Féin motion to keep the tenant in situ scheme operating, including Fine Fáil, Fine Gael and the opposition. Everyone supported it. The Minister of State said he is working closely with others. Annette Hawkins and her child will be homeless next week. She has been living in the house for 21 years and the Minister of State and his Government will be making her homeless next week. Jason Cashman, another man, is going to be homeless next week. He would have been homeless in February but the landlord let him stay there because the landlord thought the house was being bought. We have 33 families who are going to be homeless between now and the summer. Where are they going to go? The Minister of State is talking about discussions, about how it is going to be looked at, his personal opinion and ending long-term homelessness. Homelessness will go through the roof in Cork. Two hundred children are already in emergency accommodation in Cork and Kerry. This scheme saved 100 from going into emergency accommodation last year. The Minister of State's policy will potentially put 100 more children into emergency accommodation. Does the Minister of State not get it? Does he not understand? Why has he put limits? People want to live in the houses. They do not want to be homeless. I ask the Minister of State for a straight answer. Will he and the Government give the money to save the 33 families from homelessness? Many more families need a tenant in situ scheme. It is a crazy decision and an absolute disgrace. Shame on the Minister of State. I am asking a straightforward question. Will he give them the money? Yes or no?
Sentiment score: -0.03
It is closed in Cork. I have it in writing here that it is closed in Cork.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Is that a yes or a no?
Sentiment score: 0.13
Will the Minister of State have an answer by next week? That is all I am looking for. These people have families. They have children and jobs. They want an answer by next week.
Sentiment score: 0.02