Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien has rejected criticism over delays in a high-profile new law to ensure landlords allow tenants to make the first bid to buy their home if it goes up for sale, after it emerged it will not be in place until autumn at the earliest.
On 7 March, the minister announced plans for a new First Right of Refusal bill to ensure renters who were told by their landlord their home was going up for sale could make the initial bid on the property.
The potential new law is similar to legislation in France, and it was due to be in place before the Dáil summer break begins on Thursday.
However, at today's weekly Cabinet meeting, Minister O'Brien told colleagues the legislation will now not be in place until September at the earliest.
Responding to Opposition criticism over the delays in the promised protections for renters, Minister O’Brien said it is not the case that the plans are failing to be implemented.
He said the "practical measures" of the new legislation are already in place through "legislative procedures" but stressed that "legislative measures take time" to fully implement.
Minister O'Brien was speaking at a Housing For All update report launch at Government Buildings, alongside Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.
Among the key aspects of the update report is a new €150m fund to "tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction within towns and cities" and a recently announced review of the private rental market.
Minister O'Brien said the €150m fund could result in 4,000 new properties becoming available in the coming years.
He also told reporters he remains confident that Government will meet its 2023 new houses targets, saying almost 13,000 properties are currently in construction "which is the highest in a decade".
