Worries that Cork families waiting for news on tenant-in-situ scheme may have to go into emergency accommodation

A Fianna Fáil TD has expressed concern that families waiting for news on the tenant-in-situ scheme may need to go into emergency accommodation.

His comments come as Cork City Council says that a national government explanation of where costs are going does not tell the full story.

Cork City Council announced in April that it had not been given enough funding by the government to cover last year’s acquisition of properties or acquire new properties this year, despite already having committed to them with the understanding that funding would be provided.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central Pádraig O’Sullivan raised the issue in the Dáil last week, saying that in Cork city: “The sale of approximately 30 properties is currently paused.

“It is only a matter of time before the landlords get fed up and enforce the eviction notices. More than likely, the properties will be sold privately and the tenants will have to enter emergency accommodation.” 

He told minister of state Colm Brophy: “The director of services in Cork City Council very rarely makes a public comment about Government decisions like this, but she said this would have a significant effect on the prevention of homelessness in Cork. That is the reality of what we are doing.” 

Mr Brophy told him: “Cork City Council's allocation for second-hand acquisitions in 2025 is €20 million. At the end of April, it had drawn down €6.9 million or 34% of its allocation.” A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo: “the figure provided appears to pertain specifically to claims that have been paid, and does not reflect claims that have been submitted, nor commitments made by the City Council and not yet claimed.

“Additionally, it appears that much of this amount relates to claims submitted for properties acquired in Q4 of 2024, which were not paid until after the release of the 2025 funding allocation on 31 March 2025.

“With respect to properties acquired in 2025, claims could not be submitted until after the issuance of the circular dated 31 March 2025, which introduced revised funding parameters and and conditions for recoupment, including a completely new claims submission process. Cork City Council has therefore expended considerable monies that are not yet fully recouped from the Department.” 

A spokesperson for the housing department told The Echo again that not all the funding had been drawn down, saying: “It is a matter for the local authorities to decide how they use their funding allocation within the priority categories being ed by the programme.

“The department continues to work with all local authorities, including Cork City Council, to address any challenges which have emerged in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions remain an option in 2025 where no other solutions exist.” Despite this, families whose homes had gone to sale agreed months ago still have no clarity on if they will be acquired by the council.