People are 'absolutely distraught': Call for tenant-in-situ scheme funding boost in Cork

A protest was held outside City Hall yesterday calling for the tenant-in-situ scheme to be reinstated, as a Cork TD says families fear they will be homeless in the coming weeks.

Cork City Council was allocated €20m for their 2025 acquisitions programme by the Government at the end of last month, they told The Echo.

A council spokesperson explained: “The impact of funding will, unfortunately, mean that the 2025 acquisition programme is now ceased. After reviewing the current programme, and financial commitments carried over from 2024, we have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted.

“In summary, the initial funding allocation received by Cork City Council is inadequate to fulfil its existing commitments and the projected programme for 2025.”

They added that the council is discussing the matter with the Department of Housing, and “envisage that commitments will be honoured”.

A spokesperson for the department told The Echo: “It is the clear focus of the Government to increase the supply of new-build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and preventing, and ultimately eliminating, long-term homelessness.

“The Government is also committed to the continuation of the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme and targeting those acquisitions at those most vulnerable.”

Housing minister James Browne secured an additional €265m for the tenant-in-situ initiative for councils across Ireland, the spokesperson said, adding that the programme will deliver a similar number of houses this year as in 2024.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould, one of the organisers of the protest, told The Echo that he and his colleagues have been dealing with families who are “absolutely distraught”.

“They thought they were sorted, now they’re reading in the media that the scheme has been ceased and they don’t know what’s going to happen to them, they haven’t been notified yet,” he said.

“People turned up today who had been told their house would be bought by the council, and others who have just recently received notices to quit and are worried they are going to be homeless. One lady is packing her bags, because she has to be out on May 1.”

Figures provided to Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins showed that 37 single households and 51 families, consisting of 87 adults and 100 children, avoided homelessness through this scheme last year. The group brought 100 Easter eggs to the protest to symbolise these 100 children. The eggs were donated to Penny Dinners afterwards.