Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I have the Department's figures from 2004 to 2006. They show clearly that the number of registered dwellings increased from 22,000 in 2004 to 132,000 in 2006. The inspection rate to which the Minister of State is referring does not add up. Figures show that the inspection rate has dropped from 32% to 7.4%. For every house registered, the Exchequer receives €50 from the PRTB. Given that there is a revenue stream from the PRTB, it is not the Department that is ring-fencing the fund. The Minister of State should not therefore brag that he is providing money to allow for inspections because the money is actually coming from landlords themselves who want their properties inspected.

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