Clare Government TD Says Department Has Made Housing Scheme "Unworkable"

A Clare Government TD is accusing the Department of Housing of making a vital scheme "unworkable". Recent changes to the tenant-in-situ scheme, which allows local authorities to buy a property when the landlord is selling to prevent the tenant from falling into homelessness, mean there's no longer funding for essential refurbishments. Clare County Council has revealed it only spent €1.45 million of its €4 million department allocation under the scheme last year. Addressing Fianna Fáil Minister of State Niamh Smyth in the Dáil, Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says councils are "walking away" from purchases because they can't cover renovation costs.