Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to address the issue of enforcement on which very good information is detailed in the briefing. The Residential Tenancies Board pursued a number of cases. The advance briefing note outlined the number of cases taken in 2018, 2019 and 2020 following on from the issuance of registration enforcement notices. In 2020, 1,778 enforcement notices were issued. When one moves to the figures for what happened in that regard, one finds that in 2020 all of the cases were adjourned due to Covid. In terms of convictions, in the previous year, 2019, there was one; in 2018, there was one; in 2017 there were three and there were none last year, 2021. In five years, there have been only five convictions. I note that is a matter for the courts, but it is appalling that of the 1,778 notices issued there were only five convictions. It shows an appalling level of enforcement - people fail to register, the board issues enforcement notices but few convictions follow - and tells me the system is not very effective.