Housing Schemes
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Christopher O'Sullivan (FF), Cork South-West

One of the challenges we need to address is that if a house is valued at €350,000, for example, and needs refurbishment and repair, what seems to be happening - and this is what we could look at - is the council may only come up with a figure of €300,000 because it is keeping €50,000 in reserve for the refurbishment. That has proven to be a challenge. If we could somehow get around that, more property owners might come on board the tenant in situ acquisitions. It is certainly an issue I have come across.
The Senator pointed out there is a lack of rental accommodation. We need to sort that out. With the new tenancies Bill, there will be security of tenure so the notices to quit should not be as common after 1 March. There is also the short-term letting legislation, which is controversial. I am from west Cork and the Senator is from Kerry. We know how important tourism accommodation is, but if it could free up a few hundred houses for rent, it might take a bit of pressure off.
I appreciate the Senator raising this matter. I will go back to the senior Minister to get clarification on it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-18