Justice Minister Simon Harris has questioned why the local authorities have not stepped in to help a 78-year-old pensioner and her husband avoid homelessness.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also told the Dáil that he believes a solution can be found for Micheline Walsh and her husband who must move out of their home in the next three weeks.
Ms Walsh told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne on Monday that they will have no other option but to present at a homeless shelter.
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The couple were told last November that they had six months to get out of their rented home in Dublin, but that was stalled by the eviction ban. She said that due to the cost of rent, she is unable to find anywhere to live.
Ms Walsh also explained that the couple cannot stay with family because it means they would no longer qualify for social housing and because of her husband’s medical needs. He suffers from seizures after previously having a stroke.
When asked about the case, Minister Harris questioned why the local authority has not stepped in to buy the house under the tenant in situ scheme. This programme allows councils to buy homes in cases where people on social housing programmes must move out of rental accommodation because it is being sold.
Mr Harris said: “I listened very carefully to the interview last night and I listened also to the interview. It is a deeply upsetting scenario.
“What I found myself asking, quite honestly, is why has the local authority not yet kicked in the measures that the Government has clearly put in place?
“I don't want to overly get involved in a specific scenario, but we as a Government put policies and plans in place and empowered local authorities to have the right to buy up a home if somebody is at risk of being homeless.
“And most particularly in the scenario, and I don't want to overly comment on one individual family out of respect to them, but where there's a person in the home particularly sick as well.
“I really hope and expect a solution to be found there.
“In many ways, it's an example to me of the fact that we are seeing, and I see it in my own county, local authorities and others working night and day to find solutions for people in difficult situations.
“But clearly, there's an inconsistency in the application of that.”
Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, told the Dáil that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has been in contact with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council about Ms Walsh’s case.
He said that it was a “sad case” and that a “solution needs to be found”.
He also contended that extending the eviction ban past the end of March would have only “kicked the can down the road”.
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