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

There has been a significant increase in the number of inspections. Some 80% of the inspections have found that houses are up to regulation standard. I will introduce new standards at the end of March. I will publish the standards so that people can make submissions on that and other ideas and suggestions they may have.

Some 700,000 new units have been built in the past ten years so much of the private rented accommodation coming on the market is of top quality. That is not to say that some developments are not up to standard. Local authorities should be sensible and strategic and should target older developments that are not up to standard. Transferring 32,000 people from the community welfare rent allowance scheme on to the rental accommodation scheme means that local authorities examine each property that comes within the system.

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