Paschal Donohoe concerned about "less rental accommodation" if eviction ban is extended

Since the eviction ban is set to be lifted at the end of March, there have been several protests calling for it to be extended. Paschal Donohoe, Minister of Public Expenditure, stated that he was aware of the consequences of the ban's repeal and the risks that would follow.

Mr Donohoe believes that another quarter's extension would have made it even more difficult to "get out," and that "the impact on the future supply of rental accommodation would have been even worse."

"I'm very much aware of the very difficult consequences that a decision like this could have. But I ultimately believe that if the moratorium was extended, we would have less rental accommodation available in the future," he said in an interview with RTÉ Morning Ireland.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has said he was aware of difficult consequences that lifting the eviction ban could have, but said extending it could mean less rental accommodation available in the future | Read more: https://t.co/ewbmf91eNU pic.twitter.com/S8MpzOTLnX

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 10, 2023

Sinn Féin has shared plans to force a Dáil vote in order to put further pressure on the government to extend the Eviction Ban. The vote is to take place after the St. Patrick's Day recess.

Due to the existing disagreement within the government about lifting the ban, such a vote could be successful. Some coalition TDs have expressed concerns in recent months about the end of the eviction moratorium this month.

Mr Donohoe said the decision to end the eviction ban required "an awful lot of an explanation" and countered TD John McGuinness' criticism that extending the ban "would have been even more difficult to get out of it at that point."

"I'm seriously aware of how many people could be and will be in those circumstances in the weeks and months ahead. But when we brought in the moratorium on evictions, we did say it was a short-term measure.

"And I also have a responsibility to be aware of those families, those workers who want additional rental accommodation in the months and in the years ahead. And it's my considered judgment that if we extended a moratorium, it would be even harder to meet those needs later on this year and in the years ahead."

Mr Donohoe further stated that he appreciated the risks and challenges that could be created by the lifting of the ban. As a result, he promises to go "ahead in our efforts to build more homes [and] avoid doing things that lead to even less rental accommodation being available later on this year."

In order to do something about this, he is planning several measures "for approved housing bodies," adding that "the government agreed last week changes to allow to help them with the borrowing efforts they need to supply more cost rental accommodation and other forms of accommodation in the time ahead."

The end of the eviction ban has received a lot of headwind from politicians, journalists and activists who disagree with the government's concerns about availability. It's worth noting that there is a significant number of landlord TDs who have interests in the sector, particularly in the Fianna Fátl and Fine Gael parties.

Meanwhile, it seems that all of the agents dealing with homelessness believe that the removal of the eviction ban will worsen the problem, whereas the only agency that supports the ending of the ban is the landlord association.

— Vincent Browne (@vincentbrowne) March 7, 2023

One of the most basic requirements of a functioning society is the provision of secure and affordable housing.

Housing is supposedly the biggest priority for the government.

And yet it is its biggest failure.

The decision to end the eviction ban is indefensible. pic.twitter.com/a1MnBLaIrG

— Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) March 8, 2023

Áine Lawlor interview with Paschal Donohoe on the Irish government’s decision to end the eviction ban just now was excellent.

Actually found it really upsetting to listen to, the government just don’t seem to get the difficulty people are facing.

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) March 10, 2023