Northside TD calls for eviction ban to be extended

Padraig Conlon 22 Oct 2020

A Northside TD is calling on the Government to extend the planned ban on evictions for six months.

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan said a more secure and longer term plan is needed for struggling tenants.

“We need decisive, concrete action from the Government on evictions,” he said.

“Bouncing in and out of temporary and partial bans is not good enough at this stage.

“We need a six-month blanket ban on evictions.

“People deserve to feel secure in their homes and should not have to worry about being evicted during a global pandemic.”

Deputy O’Callaghan said the scientific evidence also supported an extension on evictions.

“Research from the University of Harvard shows that there is a clear link between evictions and the spread of infection,” he said.

“If we want to stop Covid-19, then we need to stop evictions.

“This ban needs to be in place, not for six weeks, but for at least six months.

“We know that a ban on evictions prevents homelessness.

“Between March and July, when the last full ban was in place, family homelessness dropped by 23%.

“We need to stop people being evicted into homelessness.

“A six-month ban on evictions buys the Government time to introduce sustainable, long-term reforms.

“Over the next few months, too many people are unfortunately going to experience job and income losses – the last thing they need on top of that is an eviction.”

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