No Written Records Found Between Housing Minister and RTB Over Controversial Wexford Evictions

A Freedom of Information request by the Irish Examiner has revealed that there are no written records between Housing Minister James Browne and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) regarding the controversial mass eviction in Wexford.

The eviction notices, which affected 36 households in the Hazelwood Estate in Bridgetown, were issued in late February 2026. This caused significant distress among tenants and sparked widespread public outcry. The notices were later rescinded, but the lack of official communication has raised questions about the level of oversight in this matter.

Minister Browne previously claimed that he had spoken to the RTB about the issue, but the Department of Housing has now confirmed that no emails or written correspondence exist between the minister and the RTB regarding the eviction notices. The department stated that the communications between Minister Browne and the RTB were done solely over the phone, with no written follow-up.

This has prompted criticism from opposition parties, including the Social Democrats, who have questioned whether the minister’s response to this serious issue was adequate. Rory Hearn of the Social Democrats described the lack of written communication as "concerning," suggesting it could raise doubts about whether the issue was taken seriously enough.

The eviction notices were originally linked to the government's new rental rules, which came into effect on March 1st, 2026. Initially, Minister Browne denied any connection between the new regulations and the evictions. However, footage from a ring video doorbell later emerged, showing an agent for the landlord suggesting that the eviction notices were, in fact, tied to concerns about the new rental laws.