Housing department rejects claim tenant-in-situ scheme has been 'demoted'

Green TD and councillor in war of words with Department of Housing which says local authority purchasing tool 'is not a scheme'

Housing minister James Browne said in February he was cutting funding to the tenant-in-situ scheme as he wanted to redirect the money into building new social homes. Stock picture: Steve Parsons/PA

The Department of Housing has rejected claims that a scheme to purchase homes for tenants at risk of eviction has been "demoted".

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman had asked the department if it was aware that local authorities were advising prospective applicants that two-bedroom properties would not be purchased for the local authority tenant-in-situ scheme.