Waterford TD outlines proposals for Government ahead of evictions ban vote

The Regional Group of Independent TDs say what way they vote regarding extending the evictions ban beyond the end of this month will be decided by the government's response to their proposals.

The group, which includes Waterford's Matt Shanahan, released a statement following a meeting on Monday evening, outlining eight proposals for securing rental accommodation and staving off evictions.

They are:

1. Remove barriers to older people in long term nursing home care who wish to lease out their homes effective from the 1^st of May 2023.
2. Increase the grant rates for the Croí Cónaithe refurbishment scheme to reflect current building costs, effective from the 1^st of May 2023.
3. The Croí Cónaithe refurbishment scheme needs to be extended to include properties which are made available for rent and not just owner occupied, effective from the 1^st of May 2023.
4. Revise the Croí Cónaithe scheme to include properties built prior to 2007, effective from the 1^st of May 2023.
5. Extend the rent-a -room relief scheme to people receiving social welfare payments who rent out a room so that they do not lose supplementary benefits such as the medical card effective from the 1^st of May 2023.
6. Introduce in Budget 2024 of a tax relief scheme to take effect in the current tax year for small landlords.
7. Amend the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to guarantee payment to landlords where the tenant defaults on payment of contribution to HAP effective from the 1^st of May 2023.
8. Immediately engage with site owners who have obtained planning under the Strategic Infrastructure Development and that have not yet commenced building due to viability issues to ensure immediate commencement of these projects under the affordable housing scheme.

Sinn Féin have tabled the motion, which is due to be debated in the Dáil today before being voted on tomorrow (Wednesday).

Cabinet will sign-off this morning (Tuesday) on its response to the motion looking to extend the evictions ban.

The three party leaders met last night and it's believed broad agreement was reached on a counter-motion due to be tabled in the Dáil later.

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