Cuts to a key homelessness prevention scheme have left families in Waterford increasingly vulnerable to eviction, according to Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane.

Deputy Cullinane said the tenant-in-situ scheme, once a vital tool for preventing homelessness, has suffered a dramatic reduction in funding. He warned that the impact now shows clearly across the county.

Sharp Drop in Home Acquisitions

Figures provided by Waterford City and County Council show a steep decline in homes acquired under the scheme.

The council purchased 29 homes in 2023 through tenant-in-situ. That figure rose to 39 homes in 2024. In 2025, acquisitions collapsed to just four.

Deputy Cullinane described the drop as “extraordinary” given the rise in notices to quit and pressure on renters.

“The tenant-in-situ scheme was working,” he said. “It kept families in their homes, in their communities, and kept children in their schools.”

Rising Risk of Homelessness

The scheme allows councils to buy homes where tenants face eviction, preventing households from entering homelessness. Cullinane said funding cuts now leave families with few alternatives.

“Cutting this support has real-world consequences,” he said. “Families now face an overheated rental market with record rents and too few homes.”

He added that many renters now receive eviction notices with no realistic path to secure accommodation.

Delays Add to Uncertainty

Cullinane also criticised delays in confirming tenant-in-situ funding for 2026. He said uncertainty prevents the council from planning or acting quickly.

“Local authorities cannot intervene without clarity,” he said. “Families facing eviction do not have time to wait.”

He said he continues to work with Cllr Joanne Bailey, who has raised the issue repeatedly at council level.

Call for Funding Restoration

Cullinane said the Government must restore and expand the scheme to prevent further homelessness in Waterford.

Deputy Cullinane raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dáil, this week and called for immediate confirmation of funding allocations.

“The Government must reverse these cuts and give Waterford the resources it needs to keep families in their homes,” he said.

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