Almost 70 eviction notices for Kilkenny, as TDs criticise lifting of ban

Data from the Residential Tenancies Board shows 68 eviction notices were served on tenants in Kilkenny from July to September 2022.

It follows the decision by Government not to extend the eviction ban from March 31.

Reacting to the decision to lift the ban, local Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion said that the Government’s decision was ‘shameful’ and ‘will plunge people into homelessness in Carlow and Kilkenny’. She called on her constituency colleagues, who are Government TDs, to explain how it had been allowed to happen.

“There is no doubt the rental market is a very precarious place to be at the moment,” said Deputy Funchion.

“The latest figures show that the sale of homeless risk from April 1, when the Government’s ban on evictions ends, is much worse than expected. Notices issued from July to September would have, in many cases, fallen due from February during the ban period. A huge number of these notices will now fall due in April.

“This will mean more people than ever before will have to leave their rental homes. There is simply no way that homeless services will be able to cope with this level of need.

"The consequence will be families forced to stay with family and friends or overhold in their rental accommodation. It will also see a rise in rough sleeping and the prospect of families with children being referred to Garda stations for a safe place to sleep. These numbers are a direct consequence of government failure."

Meanwhile, in a Dáil debate, local Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness also said he disagreed with the lifting of the ban

“The eviction ban should not have been lifted. Certain modifications should be made to it and it should be put back in place,” he said.