Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government will not reverse the decision to lift the eviction ban even if there is a massive increase in homelessness in the coming months.
He said an extension of the moratorium would not solve the problem and instead the Government would have to look to other solutions.
"If there is a massive increase in homelessness, then we have to figure out the best way to reverse that. Would the re-imposition of an eviction ban for a number of months do that, I think it probably wouldn't and I think that what we would have to do then is step up our activities in other areas."
Mr Varadkar told the Oireachtas Committee on Finance that this would include building more social homes, stepping up work to prevent homelessness and more cost rental.
He also said that a package would be put in place to encourage small landlords to stay in the market or re-enter the market.
"If I honestly believed that an eviction ban for four months or six months would reduce homelessness, I would have done it."
The Government decision to end the ban on evictions will be the subject of a Dáil vote on Wednesday 22 March.
Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin confirmed this afternoon that his party will have a Private Member's Motion debated the previous day, demanding that the Government reverse its decision.
Meanwhile, Green TD Neasa Hourigan said she has not seen the Sinn Féin motion on reversing the ending of the eviction ban - and so cannot say yet if she will support it.
However, the fact the Dublin Central deputy is even considering supporting the Sinn Féin position, will trigger more trouble within the Green parliamentary party.
It comes after the Taoiseach was questioned at the committee by Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell who called for the extension of the ban, as she said there would now be a massive increase in homelessness.
She said the level of homelessness had never been so bad in Galway city and there was a waiting list for emergency accommodation.
Mr Varadkar said he and the minister acknowledged that when the ban ends, homelessness could continue to rise.
He said that the Government did not know for sure whether the rate of homelessness would accelerate but the main thing the Government wants to do is to work on avoiding that happening.
Asked about Scotland's decision to extend a similar ban, the Taoiseach said it was not clear that the move was the right decision.
He said the difficulty with extending the eviction ban was that it would end up rolling on again and again for a number of years.
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'Reprehensible dishonesty' - Tánaiste
There were sharp exchanges in the Dáil again today over the matter.
Sinn Féin's Spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty accused the Government of making a "conscious decision" to make people homeless.
He quoted from a local authority letter to a parent with two children, which stated there was no emergency accommodation available and they should report to a garda station for a "safe place to stay".
The Donegal deputy accused the Government of "standing on the side of investment funds" rather than "putting ordinary people first".
Describing the decision to lift the ban as "cruel and heartless", he said the housing emergency was caused by both the actions and inactions of the Government.
There have been sharp exchanges in the Dáil for a second day over the Government's decision to lift the no-fault eviction ban at the end of month | Read more: https://t.co/Nqy2A0BT5Q pic.twitter.com/cesZjGOnk7
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 9, 2023
In reply, Tánaiste Mícheál Martin accused Mr Doherty of spewing hypocrisy and he asserted the dishonesty of Sinn Féin was "reprehensible".
He said Fianna Fáil had taken the housing portfolio to make a difference and they were delivering in Government, whereas Sinn Féin opposed everything.
The Tánaiste claimed the corner of the housing crisis was turned last year in which the number of new builds increased from 20,000 to 30,000.
He added 12,000 social houses would be provided in 2023 - the highest number since 1975.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs also claimed Deputy Doherty's hypocrisy "has nothing to do with the reality on the ground".
Mr Doherty said the Tánaiste had not answered the question - where was a parent with two children supposed to go when facing eviction? Given there were no hotels or emergency accommodation available - should they sleep on the floor of a Garda station?
The Tánaiste referenced this week's Cabinet decision in which 1,000 additional apartments were to be leased; 1,500 social homes would be purchased by Local Authorities of Approved Housing bodies; and additional housing units would be acquired.
'Lack of respect'
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has accused the Government of "endorsing homelessness not housing" in ending the evictions ban.
"What you are doing is a choice," she said, adding that she has listened to the "half-baked" approach Government is taking with "an increasing sense of disgust and utter disbelief."
Deputy Cairns accused the Tánaiste of "a truly astounding" lack of respect for those who are going to be made homeless "in just three short weeks".
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has accused the Government of "endorsing homelessness not housing" in ending the evictions ban | Read more: https://t.co/Nqy2A0BT5Q pic.twitter.com/xFbbWnnkkM
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 9, 2023
Micheál Martin warned against judging everyone "on this side of the House as being heartless, cruel and doesn't care less", insisting that this is not the case.
"It was this Government that introduced the evictions ban - for the first time in the history of the State," he added.
He also noted that the Social Democrats had opposed the Affordable Housing Act, and said it is important to come up with constructive suggestions.
"If you oppose, come up with solutions," Mr Martin said.
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett clashed with the Tánaiste about the fallout from the ending of the eviction ban.
Deputy Boyd Barrett cited the example of a mother-of-three who is facing eviction in mid-April after having been on the housing list for 13 years. He asked "where is she supposed to go?"
In response, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said his view was that the Government had to increase the number of homes available to rent.
He accused Deputy Boyd Barrett of opposing 1,500 homes in his constituency and asked him not to "engage in NIMBYism".
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien again defended the Government decision to allow the eviction ban to lapse later this month.
He said a "difficult" but "correct" decision has been made in the medium term.
"We have lost thousands of tenancies in the private rental market in the last six or seven years and we need a functioning sector."
Additional reporting Paul Cunningham
