The moves, which were first reported by the Sunday Times over the weekend, revisit attempts by the previous government which were not enacted before the election.
The changes also seek to put the system for determining eligibility for social housing and emergency accommodation by foreign nationals on a statutory footing.
The legislation, which is expected to go to Cabinet in the coming weeks, will also exclude those in receipt of temporary protection – the status afforded to those fleeing the Ukraine war – as being “habitually resident”, and “clarify” that where an EU citizen is not eligible for social housing supports, the local authority is not required to provide homeless services.
The Opposition also criticised the proposals, with Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin calling it a “deeply disingenuous and dangerous briefing”. He said it sought to shift blame for the housing and homelessness crises on to migrant communities, and Deputy Ó Broin spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.
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