Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his response, which acknowledges that this was last reviewed in 1992. Is he aware that in 2004, 15 county councils and one city council recorded that zero inspections were carried out despite his reference to dedicated funding? Surely information is being returned to his Department that no inspections are being carried out by local authorities on this matter.

What is the indication of the standards set in the area? The legislation and the enforcement are two separate matters. We can legislate until the cows come home but we need enforcement. There is no enforcement at local level. The only enforcement is when a tenant in private or public rented dwellings makes a complaint. We do not have a driven service, we have a crisis-driven service, where those in bad accommodation approach local authorities to get something done. This is not acceptable for the maintenance of standards in the private or the public rental sector. Will we see a change in this operation in the legislation that the Minister of State suggests he will bring before the House?

See this speech in context