Senior Government officials are set to meet in the coming days to accelerate work on the plan to give tenants first refusal to purchase their rented home if they are facing eviction.

Officials from the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Housing are expected to discuss the proposal in detail next week amid hopes in the Government that legislation to deliver the scheme could be published within weeks.

Officials are likely to examine how a similar scheme operates in France and this will form the basis for the legislation which will be drawn up here.

Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien has already stated that he hopes to have this legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas before the Dáil summer recess in July.

The proposal would also allow an Approved Housing Body to purchase the tenant's home and to rent it back to them, under what the Government is describing as a "cost rental backstop."

The discussions across the Government next week come against the backdrop of a Sinn Féin Dáil motion which will be debated on Tuesday before a vote on Wednesday night.

It will call for the extension of the evictions ban until the end of January 2024, during which time the party says up to 4,000 social and affordable homes could be delivered.

The Green Party is due to meet on Monday with two of its TDs highly critical of the Government decision to lift the evictions ban at the end of the month.

Both Patrick Costello and Neasa Hourigan are also seeking more "concrete" details on the Government's plans to protect renters.

Independent TDs who often support the Government, such as Michael Lowry and Cathal Berry, are likely to hold discussions with Minister O'Brien before deciding how to vote next week.

Even if the Government defeats the Sinn Féin motion there is still the possibility that another party or group could soon table a confidence motion in the coalition.

Leader of the Seanad Lisa Chambers said there is not "a cliff edge" regarding evictions as the average notice period is six months for tenants.

Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, she also accused Sinn Féin of whipping up hysteria that is "damaging the rental sector" and landlords are afraid of the narrative the party is taking on it.

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She said local authorities have been directed to provide emergency accommodation following the Government decision to lift the temporary eviction ban.

The Government is also putting other measures in place while continuing to increase the supply and delivery of homes, she added.

Louise O’Reilly, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal responded with a claim that it is in fact the Government causing the hysteria because of their handling of housing.

She said in April there will be 3,000 notices to quit and, she said, that roughly equates to 6,000 people.

"Where are those people going to go?" she asked.

Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD for Dún Laoghaire, said it is a "relentless trail of misery and fear" as families and individuals are left asking where they can go.

"People are terrified," he said.

He does not believe the Government has any medium to long-term solutions in place.