Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The Department of Social Protection and the HSE should be involved in this process, and I welcome the prospect of proactive engagement. I will quote from a recent adjudication from the PRTB in regard to two recent cases with which I am familiar. It states "the behaviour of occupants and a visitor to the dwelling on numerous occasions constituted anti-social behaviour, in particular in the disposing of refuse in neighbouring gardens." It also states:

The steps taken by the respondent were inadequate to address the anti-social behaviour and breaches of obligation by the tenants. As a result of the breaches of obligation by the occupants of and visitors to the dwelling, the applicants were directly and adversely affected such that their quality of life, safety and security in their own homes were harmed and inconvenienced.

That is from the report of an adjudicator within the PRTB but all we did as a State was impose a fine of a couple of hundred euro. The landlord is laughing at us and continues to show disrespect while tenants are being paid by us to live in accommodation.

If the State is paying money to a landlord and tenant, they should not be allowed to victimise, terrorise and intimidate people who have bought their own homes or are renting in the area, living up to their responsibilities. They are decent and law-abiding citizens. In her reply, the Minister indicated we are paying €437 million for this in 2012 but for how long will a minority be allowed to dictate to the majority? I would be glad if representatives of the Department of Social Protection, the HSE or the PRTB adjudicator could go into these areas, meet the affected people and understand what they have had to endure. We are paying €437 million but allowing such behaviour to continue; we must stop it at some stage.

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