Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has called for “the immediate reinstatement of the ban on no fault evictions”.

The call was made after the Residential Tenancies Board issued the Quarter 4 eviction notice figures, showing that a further 4,329 notices were issued in the last three months of 2022.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Board show that 4,329 eviction notices were issued from October to December last year. This brings the total number of eviction notices issued in 2022, according to the RTB, to 11,868.

“Significantly, 3,329 of the Q4 notices will fall due in April, May and June of this year. This is on top of the almost 3,000 notices issued in Q3 which also start to fall due from April.

“This is huge number of eviction notices. While a small number of people will secure alternative private rental accommodation, most will not.

“The result will be an increase in hidden homelessness as people move in with family and friends and an increase in the number of single people and families in emergency accommodation.

“Local Authorities are already at breaking point. Our emergency accommodation system will simply not be able to cope with any significant increase in homeless presentations. Many people will be forced to overhold and in some cases to sleep rough.

“The Government’s decision to end the ban on no fault evictions was wrong. It must be immediately reinstated.

“Government must also implement an emergency package of measures to prevent homelessness, accelerate exits from emergency accommodation and increase and accelerate the delivery of much needed social and affordable homes.”