Evictions in Cork increase by 47pc this year – Cork councillor calls for Dáil to reconvene
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Eviction notices have increased by 47% in Cork in the first quarter of 2025.
39 new households have been placed in emergency accommodation because of evictions and 33 more for which evictions are imminent
'What we have is a government more concerned with maintaining Dáil speaking time for Michael Lowry than maintaining roofs over people's heads,' said Cllr Oliver Moran who has called for the Dáil to reconvene to discuss the growing number of evictions in Cork.
The Green Party councillor said the Dáil must reconvene so that Minister for Housing, James Browne, can make an urgent statement in relation to the continued government commitment to the purchase of houses for people facing eviction, people with disabilities and to tackle vacancy.
The call has come after officials in Cork City Council and other local authorities made clear that national budget allocations for 2025 meant the funding received will be insufficient to adequately cover current commitments from 2024 into 2025.
At the meeting of Cork City Council on April 14, Director of Housing, Alison O'Rourke, confirmed: "After reviewing the current programme and financial commitments carried over from 2024, we have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted. The refurbishment programme for tenant-in-situ properties to bring them up to lettable standards will be required to be reduced or terminated.'
Ms O'Rourke continued: 'The Council's private rightsizing initiative will not progress any further in 2025. Any new acquisition of second-hand properties for special needs, such as Housing First, homeless prevention, or accommodation for persons with a disability, will not therefore proceed within the acquisitions programme in 2025."
Green Party councillor for Cork City North East and spokesperson on housing, Cllr Oliver Moran said: 'The tenant-in-situ scheme was a demand of the Green Party before we would agree to the lifting of the eviction band. That the money has already run out for 2025 tells you everything you need to know about this new government and their approach to housing.'
"Last year, the scheme accounted for more than a third of people taken out of homelessness in Cork,' said Cllr Moran. 'Eighty-seven adults and 100 children that would otherwise have nowhere to go were able to stay in their homes because of the scheme. Eviction notices have already increased by 47% in the first quarter of 2025. Already, we have 39 new households placed in emergency accommodation because of evictions and 33 more for which evictions are imminent.'
Cllr Moran said the government is more concerned with maintaining Dáil speaking time for Michael Lowry than maintaining roofs over people's heads. 'I don't think there has ever been a change in commitment by a government so quickly and so disastrously ever before."
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