Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 11, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"9.The Minister may by regulations prepare a code of conduct on the management of rent arrears by housing authorities.".

Some local authorities are very good at dealing with rent arrears and work well with tenants to resolve issues fairly and avoid undue hardship and stress. Unfortunately other authorities are not so good at dealing with these problems. One way to solve this and ensure a more uniform and positive approach in these issues is for the Minister of State to provide a statewide framework for how a local authority should approach the resolution of rent arrears. This would be particularly important in the context of the plan to deduct arrears from tenants' social welfare payments without any need for engagement with the tenants.