More money needed to buy rented houses in County Kildare

More money needs to be provided to purchase rented homes in County Kildare.

The tenant-in-situ scheme allows county councils to buy properties in cases where tenants are facing eviction.

At a Kildare County Council meeting, Cllr Aoife Breslin asked KCC to pressurise the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage “to immediately reconsider their decision to cease providing funding.”

She was supported  by Cllr Chris Pender who said the scheme prevents homelessness and needs to continue while Cllr Nuala Killeen said a cessation of the scheme amounted to “an act of cruelty".

But KCC official Annette Aspell said the scheme has been over-subscribed nationally and been very successful in County Kildare where over 140 purchases have been approved - including 48 between January and September 2024.

She said the scheme continues to play an important role in the council’s response to homelessness. Ms Aspell said it had not been axed and under a new government  it is likely to continue to be funded - though there is no funding at this time.

She also said not all of those seeking to avail of the scheme are affected  by the imminent risk of homelessness.