Notices of termination 'main driver of homelessness for families in Dublin'

The majority of such termination notices are because the landlord wishes to sell their property, with the next most common reason for family homelessness being rental arrears. Stock picture

Notices of termination continued to be the primary driver of homelessness for families in Dublin, accounting for 42% of such situations to date in 2025, according to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive.

On Tuesday afternoon, it will tell the Oireachtas that the majority of such termination notices are because the landlord wishes to sell their property, with the next most common reason for family homelessness being rental arrears.

Dublin Region Homeless Executive director Mary Hayes will tell the Oireachtas housing committee: 

This is not necessarily reflective of an unwillingness to pay, but also of the struggle for tenants to keep up payments where the accommodation has become unaffordable. 

In terms of single adult homelessness in the capital, Ms Hayes will tell the Oireachtas committee of the executive’s concern that discharges from direct provision “are resulting in homelessness”.

She will say that such issues account for a quarter of all presentations by single adults to homeless services in Dublin.

All told there were 6,319 people in families living in homeless situations in Dublin at the end of April — another new record — and 11,211 people altogether, out of a nationwide population of 15,580 people living without a home.

There were 4,775 children living homeless in Ireland at that time.

Ms Hayes will note that most of the families living in homeless situations in the capital are resident in private emergency accommodation, situations which “are not appropriate for long term living”.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) itself has been in the spotlight recently with regard to the financial issues of homelessness charity the Peter McVerry Trust. 

The Comptroller and Auditor General last week told the Public Accounts Committee that several advance funding payments were made to the trust by the DRHE in 2023 without prior approval from the Department of Housing.

Separately at Tuesday’s hearing, the ombudsman for children will tell the committee that the impact of homelessness and unstable living conditions on children is “catastrophic”.

“It affects every aspect of their lives; education, well-being, self-development. It also has a monumental impact on the ability of children to access services and supports," Niall Muldoon will tell the committee, adding that a specific child and family homelessness strategy is needed nationally “to finally tackle this issue”.

Mr Muldoon will ask the committee to “prioritise” child homelessness adding that he has also engaged with the Minister for Children Norma Foley on the issue.

“This child centred strategy is needed because we must finally acknowledge the additional vulnerability of children. We must recognise their unique rights and plan to meet their individual,” he is expected to say.