Mr. Paul Dunne:

The Deputy mentioned overcrowding. We are all concerned about it. It is not part of the minimum standards for private rental minimum accommmodation, but there is a case for its inclusion. However, one gets into difficulty with the definition. We all want to deal with severe cases of overcrowding, but we do not wish to penalise families that have an additional member. It is about getting the balance right and giving the right powers to the local authorities to implement and enforce it. We are in ongoing discussions with DCC on some proposals; therefore, it is on our agenda.

The Deputy mentioned dampness. As I am not a technical person, I will have to have a word with our building standards people to see if they can shed any light on it. If there is something we can do in amending the regulation on dampness, we will do so, but I cannot comment on it further than that.