Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

The number of private rented accommodations registered with the PRTB has increased dramatically from a few hundred in 2002 to approximately 200,000 in 2006.

This is an important opportunity to clarify the matters of the Threshold commentary and the 239 illegal convictions. Threshold agrees that, due to early intervention, most of the cases were resolved. In 2006, illegal eviction cases accounted for 1% of all cases received by the PRTB. To date in 2007, 56 of the 1,250 cases received by the PRTB related to illegal evictions. Anyone examining the new system sees that it produces decisions, is fair to the landlord and the tenant and is expeditious compared to court proceedings.

The PRTB is not under-resourced. Spending on its services will be approximately €3.8 million, in addition to which I have secured the funding necessary for the board's move to its new headquarters early next year.

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