The tenant in situ scheme, which was introduced to prevent homelessness, is not fit for purpose in its current form, particularly from Kerry County Council's point of view. The fundamental flaw is that while funding is provided to purchase properties, there is no adequate funding to carry out the works required after purchase. Any remedial works to address dampness or poor insulation, outdoor electrics, heating systems or general compliance must be paid for out of a council's existing maintenance budget. Herein lies the problem. The maintenance budget is already stretched to breaking point in Kerry County Council, with over 4,500 properties on its portfolio of housing stock. It is struggling to maintain its own housing stock, which is ageing, costly to run and in urgent need of upgrades. Kerry County Council simply does not have spare capacity to resolve the additional properties that are required through investment after purchase. It cannot do them up. This leaves the council with an impossible choice to either refuse the tenant in situ purchases and risk families falling into homelessness, or to accept properties that we cannot afford to bring up to standard, placing further strain on services and creating long-term liabilities.

This is not a sustainable housing policy. It does not prevent homelessness; it merely shifts the financial burden on to local authorities without providing the resources to meet it. If the tenant in situ scheme is to work, it must include ring-fenced funding for post-purchase works and upgrades, reflecting the real conditions of these homes. Without that, the scheme will continue to fail councils, existing tenants and the very households it claims to protect. Under the current rules, Kerry County Council is not availing of the tenant in situ scheme, so it is pointless having it. Why are they getting tenants out of the house so they can purchase it and do it up when they are already there? This thing is not making a lot of sense. I call on the Minister for housing to come to the House to debate this matter.