A Waterford councillor says the eviction ban "has to be lifted."
Those are the words of Fianna Fáil councillor Jason Murphy.
Speaking on Déise Today he says "It is extremely tough out there at the moment. We all know about the eviction ban being lifted on the 31st of this month."
The Residential Tenancy Board (RTB) data showed 4,741 notices to quit were issued by landlords in the three months leading up to when the eviction ban was announced on October 28 with 119 in Waterford.
Councillor Murphy says: "This is difficult for everyone. I think with my politicians' hat on, it has to be lifted.
"I was getting a lot of reps from small landlords. The landlords were leaving the housing market in their droves."
According to Councillor Murphy, the council is in the process of building more than 545 social housing units to meet the demands of the housing list, with some people on the list for 5+ years as mentioned in the February District council meeting.
Councillor Murphy added: "The evidence of that, in terms of the housing list in Waterford the longest housing list are the people looking for the one and two bedroom houses.
"The three-bedroom housing list is the shortest. I think the state is trying to catch up with a change in the demographic in society over the past three decades."
Referring to nationwide stats from last year, he says in the region of 10,000 residential units were delivered last year.
He says: "If I am right that is the largest social housing delivery since 1975."
Continuing, he says: "I know that is not going to keep a person happy who is getting evicted next week.
"The question here is supply but it is important to note there is a movement in Waterford with housing units.
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