Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has told the Dáil that the local authority in Fingal has attempted to purchase the houses in Tyrrelstown where 100 families face the threat of eviction.
"Fingal County Council and housing association have been in touch and have been working on trying to purchase those units. And I don't want to get into too much detail on that.
"But the facts are that activity did take place and it wasn't like they didn't try. I want to put that on the record and I know that the chief executive did that with his own councillors."
A Dáil debate on housing and homelessness concluded this evening.
The Dáil then adjourned until Wednesday, 6 April at 2.30pm.
A group of residents who face losing their homes in Tyrrelstown in Dublin earlier staged a protest in Dublin city centre.
The TyrrelstownTenants Action Group wants the government to step in to save them from eviction.
The company which owns the properties at Cruise Park Drive is selling-up, with 40 families told they must leave their properties so far.
More than 100 families face losing their homes as the fund that owns the properties seeks to sell 103 houses in the area over four years.
It is understood the effected households received notification their leases will not be renewed, with the notice period varying depending on how long they have lived at the property.
Residents say they cannot find suitable and affordable alternative accommodation in the area.
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger said the developers of the estate owe €42m to NAMA and AIB.
Ms Coppinger said that if 100 families are evicted, it would mean up to 200 adults and 400 or 500 children having to leave the area.
She said this is completely unacceptable and these people need to be allowed stay in their homes.
She also asked Minister Kelly to meet with the residents to hear their ideas on how a solution may be reached.
Earlier, Mr Kelly said the situation in Tyrrelstown arose from "constitutional issues".
