Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

I thank the witnesses for coming in. I emphasise the question of resourcing. As to how the RTB responds to this, it is a difficult question, but given the complexity of the new measures that have been introduced, do the witnesses expect that there will be an increase in disputes as a result? Maybe they could give us some sense of their expectation. Has the RTB done analysis of the work required to respond to that?

We have just had landlord organisations in. Could the witnesses comment on this gap between the number of registered landlords and what the census showed, a significantly higher number of landlords? I know the RTB has done some work on that, but do the witnesses still think there is a problem of landlords not registering? What do they think the scale of that problem is?

On rent arrears, the analysis shows very clearly that rents will increase as a result of these new measures. I was looking at the figures, and disputes relating to rent arrears numbered about 403. I think the figure was in the region of 500 in 2020 and 2021. It is now up to 625 in quarter 1 of 2025. Does the RTB see the issue of rent arrears increasing? Does it have any sense of the pressure that renters are under in terms of affordability in rents?