HOUSING: Here's why the special sitting of Tipperary County Council matters

Tipperary County Council has held a special sitting last Wednesday to discuss the ending of the eviction ban.

The meeting was requisitioned by five councillors, Seamus Morris, Pat English, David Dunne, Tony Black and Anne-Marie Shiner Ryan. In their letter they say:

“Tipperary County Council currently has extremely limited capacity, and we have called on the Executive to do all it can to add capacity as we face an increase in homelessness in the coming weeks.

“The five councillors below believe that Tipperary County Council should meet urgently to discuss this impending escalation of the housing and homelessness crisis and to seek immediate action from Government to address its causes”.

County Cathaoirleach Roger Kennedy said a meeting like this has not been called in 30 or 40 years except for during the pandemic. He said the lifting of the ban over the weekend may cause an “unprecedented homelessness situation’.

The five councillors who called the meeting told officials it was not a “finger pointing exercise.

”They acknowledged the good work done by the housing staff under incredible pressure.

However, they said it was necessary to have a meeting to discuss the council’s response to what will be a lot of hardship on constituents.

Cllr Anne-Marie Shiner Ryan said there was a “sense of fear and panic and a sense of helplessness from people facing notices to quit and homelessness.”

Cllr Pat English said he is dealing with a lot of vulnerable people who are reliant on the rental market.

Cllr Seamus Morris said they called the meeting out of a ‘sense of shock’ at the lifting of the ban. He said the Government needed to officially call the crisis an emergency and make a statement.

Cllr David Dunne said he was concerned about an ‘avalanche of people’ coming to the council for assistance. He also said he was concerned that the current figures do not cover people living with family and on sofas, the “hidden homeless”.

Cllr Tony Black said none of this is a reflection on the housing section, but the lifting of the eviction ban will create more ‘burden’ for people.

Tipperary County Council Chief Executive Joe MacGrath acknowledged what he called ‘the very real concerns’ of members and tenants but said progress was being made by council staff with Government resources.

He said the schemes, initiatives and funding provided to local authorities was "some cause for optimism."

However, Mr MacGrath also said the lack of private homes was a significant challenge in easing the crisis.

“Private housing provisions have and will always be key to providing a response and solutions, “ said Mr MacGrath.

Director of Services Sinead Carr said that the people presenting as homeless to the council had changed.

She said before covid they would deal with many people experiencing relationship breakdown or involved in anti-social behaviour.

However, with so many landlords leaving the market and the lack of investment in building houses, many people are finding it hard to move home when issued a Notice to Quit.

When the covid eviction ban was lifted last July, she said it was “practically a cliff-edge.”

However, now with staggered dates for notices to quit, the council has time to assist people. But only if they approach them early in the process.

Ms Carr said the message in the media was ‘negative’ but doesn’t need to be.“We also need to give people some hope,” said Ms Carr.

To address this, staff from the housing section of Tipperary County Council gave presentations on the current measures and provisions as well as progress on restoration and building.

The councillors who called the meeting were given time to ask questions followed by all other members in attendance.

Housing staff answered those queries before the council went in camera.