Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Does the Deputy want the Department to take over the role of the Private Rental Tenancies Board? We provide the PRTB with the information. There is a legal obligation on those involved to register with the board. Deputy Shortall makes the point that when a client of ours is going to agree that one should be registered, he or she cannot register in advance of taking possession of the property and paying rent. The law does not allow for it to be done in advance but the legal basis which is strong and solid is in place. It would be wrong to make social welfare clients responsible. We pass all information to the PRTB to be followed up by it. As the body legally appointed by the Oireachtas, it deals with the matter. If the Oireachtas is of the view that it is not doing its job, that is another issue. However, we certainly provide all information above and beyond what is required of us to ensure people are compliant. Equally, we work on issues with the Revenue Commissioners to ensure Revenue is fully up to date on the people to whom rent is paid. Primarily, we pay rent allowance to individual social welfare recipients, not landlords.

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