Sligo-Leitrim TD calls for winter ban on evictions
SINN Féin TD for Sligo and Leitrim, Martin Kenny (pictured) has called on the government to introduce a winter ban on evictions immediately.
Speaking about his move, he said he is dissatisfied by a proposal which would see a possible ban not come into effect until December: “The government must introduce a winter ban on evictions now. This must happen urgently, without delay.
“I am deeply concerned by some reports suggesting that a ban, if introduced, would not take effect until December. There is a severe housing crisis ongoing across Sligo and Leitrim.
“Any delay in the introduction of the suggested eviction ban will result in more adults and children being forced into homelessness across the north-west.”
The Sligo Leitrim TD also expressed concern about the ban only being temporary, effective over the course of winter only, as well as offering his own thoughts on how to tackle the national housing crisis.
“This temporary ban on evictions will not solve the core problem – which is the government’s failure to deliver an adequate supply of social and genuinely affordable homes. This ban being discussed by government will only protect those who would be served with an eviction through no fault of their own. There will be exceptions to the ban where tenants do not pay rent or damage a property.
“Minister O’Brien must accompany any ban on evictions with a package of measures to accelerate and increase the delivery of public housing to meet social and affordable housing need across Sligo and Leitrim.
“Any such package must do more to bring vacant units back into stock. It must include the delivery of high quality permanent modular homes. It must increase the purchase of private rental homes with HAP and RAS tenants in place and at risk of eviction. And, it must cut the red tape and bureaucracy that is slowing down the delivery of much needed social homes.
Kenny also described his dissatisfaction at the way things are for the people of Sligo and Leitrim, and mentioned that Sinn Féin would approach the situation differently.
“Every day I meet people and families in Sligo and Leitrim who are paying the price of the governments’ failure to tackle the housing crisis and it isn’t good enough. Too many people here are stuck paying sky high rents or living in cramped accommodation while they are priced out of ever owning their own home.”
He added: “Sinn Féin in government would tackle the housing crisis so that people in Sligo, Leitrim and indeed across the country can buy genuinely affordable homes.”