Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his reply and I am pleased that the matter is being progressed by the Government. I hope there will be no delay because there have been complaints for decades. The situation is dire in many cases. I regularly receive complaints at my clinics. Tenants complain that the landlord retains a substantial portion of the deposit. In one case, the landlord retained €500 out of the deposit of €800 on the basis of wear and tear to the apartment. This is very much a moveable feast and it is very difficult to verify wear and tear over a period of time. The current rules as regulated by the PRTB are not sufficiently tight to allow for proper criteria or verification.

The only way to deal with this issue is by way of an independent mechanism. Rules and regulations alone are not satisfactory. I am not in favour of establishing another quango of any description. Local authorities deal with a large body of tenants and they would be best qualified to deal with private rental deposits or, failing that, the PRTB which is the regulatory body, should be responsible. I hope the process being undertaken by the Minister can be conducted without delay and a structure will be in place in the not too distant future.

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