The Government is to begin cutting funding to its tenant in situ scheme, with housing minister James Browne concerned about councils being over-reliant on the programme. The scheme, set up in 2023, allows local authorities to buy houses in cases where tenants are at risk of homelessness when their landlord is selling up. However, government figures are concerned that local authorities are too reliant on acquiring homes instead of directly building new properties. “Council dependence on the tenant in situ scheme is far too high,” said a Government source, who insisted the scheme was designed as a temporary measure. In Dun Laoghaire, 46 houses were bought by the council through the tenant in situ scheme in 2024.

Source: Irish Examiner February 16, 2026 02:03 UTC