Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-09
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James Browne (FF), Wexford

I thank Senators for their contributions. I will address some of the issues that have been raised.
In relation to Senator McCormack, it is very disappointing that the Sinn Féin spokesperson, or any Sinn Féin Senator, did not remain for the answers, but anyway. Irish migrants returning are not affected by this legislation. It reflects current rules. For Irish migrants returning, it would be very straightforward for them to establish habitual residence. They would, of course, already have a legal entitlement to be here.
On the appeals mechanism within the local authority, it is independent within that local authority and the local authority is the best body to hear those appeals.
There has been significant scrutiny of this legislation, as is happening at the moment. I do not expect any increase in the numbers sleeping rough as a result of decisions in this legislation. There is no reason for any increase in rough sleeping as a result of the decisions here. There is a codification of existing rules.
In regard to County Laois, I fully encourage Laois to apply for further funding. We have provided over €500 million for homeless accommodation and supports this year and there is a significant amount of funding there for that.
The Senator also raised the issue of back gardens in the legislation, which is addressed in other legislation but is also touched on here. These are people's private homes and while I understand the call for tenants' rights, these are non-connecting extensions put onto people's principal private residences - their own private homes - and it would not be appropriate to treat somebody renting out a room or a modular home on the principal private residence, where they are sharing entrances and services, with the same level of position.
In relation to Senator Harmon's points, the night shelters are not capped at two nights. It is night by night. It is two nights for the first time and then night by night after that, as long as necessary. There is no cap on it. This requires legal and habitual residency to be entitled to social housing. Anybody at risk of rough sleeping will be provided with accommodation.
The tenancy rules were increased. Tenants' rights were increased to be the strongest in the history of the State, which, of course, the Labour Party voted against. We have momentum now in the delivery of homes across this country, and in the delivery of social homes. We have seen drawdowns by first-time mortgage applicants increase. We have seen commencements and planning increase as well.
In regard to landlords pulling out, we saw an increase last year in the number of landlords and tenancies as well, so I think that is a reflection of that. It does not affect anybody who is an international protection applicant because they were provided with accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, process. Anybody else who is here in the short term and who does not meet the other requirements will be provided with night-to-night accommodation as necessary if they are at risk of rough sleeping.
On the eight to eight, it is not only eight to eight. The guidance to local authorities is that it is very much a minimum. If it was simply to use the word "night", in the summer months, that would only be a matter of a few hours. We decided to put in a minimum time limit there to ensure that people would, particularly in the summer hours, get a minimum provision in relation to it. That was very important.
On addressing homelessness, the Government last year delivered 9,089 new-build social homes, the highest number in the history of the State. The reality is the last time the Labour Party was in government it built 75. They ignored the warnings of Sister Stanislaus, God rest her soul. They belittled Father Peter McVerry when he warned there was a homelessness crisis coming. They just pretended and did not want to address the issue. Driving down delivery to that level has meant the curve going back up has taken a significant amount of time. Remember that number - 75 social homes. That is what the Labour Party delivered the last time it was in government.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:11+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09