Over 130 Westmeath and Roscommon households facing eviction in coming weeks

Official figures indicate that at least 132 eviction notices which were served in Westmeath and Roscommon last year will take effect when ban on no-fault evictions is lifted at the end of this month.

The figure of 132 evictions across the two counties is based on data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on notices to quit that were served in the three months leading up to when the evictions ban was announced on October 28.

It does not include eviction notices issued since then or notices that were not notified to the RTB - meaning the actual figure for pending evictions may be significantly higher.

In Westmeath, 76 notices to quit were served in the lead-up to the eviction ban being introduced last year, according to the RTB's figures. In Roscommon, 56 eviction notices were issued during the same period.

In the Dáil on Wednesday, the Government defeated a Sinn Féin motion, which called for the eviction ban to be extended, by 83 votes to 68.

In Longford/Westmeath, Government TDs Peter Burke, Robert Troy and Joe Flaherty voted against the Sinn Féin motion, as did Independent Roscommon/Galway TD Denis Naughten.

The two Sinn Féin TDs in the two constituencies, Sorca Clarke and Claire Kerrane, supported their party's motion, while the Dáil record indicates that Independent Roscommon/Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice was not present for the vote.

Deputy Clarke described the outcome of the vote as "shameful".

"Where do the thousands of households set to lose their homes in nine days go?" she asked yesterday (Wednesday) evening.

"This is a terrifying time for people, and the Government are not offering any viable solutions to these very vulnerable families, singles and elderly tenants in privately rented accommodation."

Offaly Green Party Senator and Minister of State Pippa Hackett said the decision to remove the no-fault evictions ban had been "very difficult" but she argued that "in the longer term, extending the moratorium would have resulted in fewer homes being available".