Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-14
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James Browne (FF), Wexford

The Government supports section 7 standing part of the Bill and cannot accept any amendment to it. Section 7 introduces two sections into the Housing Act 1988, section 10A and section 10B. Section 10A implements the Government's policy aim of introducing eligibility criteria around legal and habitual residency in respect of section 10 local authority-provided homeless services and supports while at the same time offering a safety service in line with Ireland's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. In line with the amendments to eligibility for social housing support, lawful residency and habitual residency as eligibility criteria for accessing homeless supports are being put on a statutory footing. This will ensure the State is operating a harmonised and consistent approach to the provisions of social entitlements in general. These eligibility criteria specifically relate to an individual's connection to the State and not to an individual's established connection to a specific local authority. Until such time as a definitive determination on eligibility has been made and any appeal on that determination has been concluded, a local authority may provide homeless supports and accommodation under section 10(1) in the normal course of the person.
To guard against an increase in rough sleeping, a safety net service has been introduced to allow local authorities to provide emergency accommodation to a person deemed ineligible for homeless supports and services. The safety net provision is to be provided by the local authority on a night-to-night basis, and this is to allow local authorities to reassess the circumstances each day to determine whether the safety net should still be provided. That safety net under this section will be provided in circumstances where a household is ineligible and where the household is seeking alternative assistance or accommodation but does not have such available, and the local authority can continue to provide a safety net service for as long as those circumstances exist. It is important to emphasise that there is no two-night limit on this.
In relation to the Cathaoirleach's decision on amendment No. 9, that is a matter for the Cathaoirleach. The merits or otherwise of such a decision or justification is not a matter for me to comment on.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:15+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-14