Press Release 11th June 2026
Irish emigrants planning to return to live in Ireland could be adversely affected by proposed housing legislation, which could exclude them from accessing social housing or homeless services.
Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project, together with partners Safe Home Ireland and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas, has expressed serious concern about the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill, warning that it could create significant barriers for Irish citizens returning from abroad who need access to social housing and homelessness services.
All three organisations have seen a growing number of returning emigrants and their families arrive in Ireland with nowhere to live, often entering homelessness immediately upon their return. Despite raising these serious issues in joint submissions to government departments and committees, their concerns have been ignored.
The proposed inclusion of Habitual Residence criteria for accessing social housing supports in Ireland is a major concern. This change could prevent some of the most vulnerable returning emigrants from accessing emergency accommodation and other essential housing services when they need them most.
Sarah Owen from Crosscare’s Irish Diaspora Support Project said, “Those most likely to be affected include survivors of domestic and institutional abuse, deportees, former prisoners, and other vulnerable members of the Irish diaspora returning home. Returning Irish citizens with non-Irish family members could face additional barriers, be excluded from support, or be separated during the housing application process.”
The proposed measures also appear to undermine the commitments set out in Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy, which aims to reduce administrative barriers for people seeking to return to Ireland and recognises that vulnerable and marginalised groups often need additional support.
The three organisations have raised these concerns with Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD. They are calling on Minister Richmond to engage with the Minister for Housing, James Browne TD, on these issues.
Their key asks are:
- Amendment of the legislation to allow for the retention of Local Authority discretion in assessing housing applications from returning Irish citizens, particularly where non-Irish family members are involved,
- Confirmation that returning Irish citizens and families presenting as homeless will not be denied access to emergency accommodation as a result of the changes, and
- The development of clear decision-making guidelines, staff training, and an independent appeals process before the legislation is implemented.
Sarah Owen stated, “We believe these safeguards are essential to ensure that vulnerable Irish citizens returning home are not left without access to the housing supports they need.”
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