Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know that local authority houses are not included in the PRTB's remit but some are below the minimum standard and I have often seen queries about various premises owned by the one landlord. One might call these repeat offenders. There is a fine of €4,000 for an offender but one can re-offend. These landlords are not struck off the list as being unsuitable landlords. Will Ms Walsh comment on that?

The transfer of property is happening in the voluntary housing sector but in the local authority sector staff numbers have dropped as they have across the board. In many cases the numbers went up when there was no need for them. IT will help but will not do everything. Is there a proposal to transfer some of the local authority staff who have so much experience in planning and registration with the PRTB, rather than making them redundant, to the PRTB, if necessary?

A common complaint about rental houses is that they are below the minimum standard. The legislation is being changed to make sure that property being let will meet a basic standard which is a good move. I do not know if there are figures available for the numbers who stop paying rent. Landlords are often demonised as ogres but that is not always the case because they often have to put up with anti-social behaviour. People stop paying rent while the PRTB is dealing with their dispute and seem to get away with that although it is illegal. The longer the dispute goes on the better it suits the tenant. Some may bring spurious cases just to stop paying rent for a year. Statistics are vital and computers make it possible to compile them. It is vital to have statistics passing between the PRTB and the local authorities to make the system work better.

Landlords do have a case to make. Many of them do not bring complaints because they have an attitude of grin and bear it, get on and do it, and get the property ready and re-let it. Just because they do not bring cases it should not be assumed that they do not have cases to bring.

Deputy Humphreys' questions about establishing board policy and objectives were valid. One of the main aims of the chairperson of any board is to get the board's priorities and objectives right. I would like to see Ms Walsh here again when and if she is appointed - one cannot speak in definite terms about someone who is designated - to tell us that she has considered the whole situation from the inside out, having previously looked from the outside in, and outline her policies and objectives.

I congratulate the PRTB on being one of the few State bodies that is self-financing. That is positive. I look forward to seeing Ms Walsh here again when and if she is appointed.