Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ellis as this is a real issue. I met representatives of the Irish Banking Federation recently because I was concerned about the role of receivers, in particular, and the federation has agreed to draft a rights document for tenants to ensure they know their rights in this context. It is important that the rights of tenants are maintained in these difficult circumstances, and I referred to how they are contained in statute.

I intend to accelerate the construction programme as soon as possible. We are in very difficult economic circumstances and budgets have been cut significantly, not just in the few years since I took this job but in the years before that as well. We need to begin constructing public housing as soon as possible, and I intend to do so when we can ensure funding exists for it. In the mean time we must use whatever mechanisms we have to protect the rights of tenants and ensure we use the supply of housing in the private sector, either through RAS or rent supplement. We have plans to bring the process under the remit of local authorities in the near future.

It is a difficult issue, particularly in cities like Dublin, which has supply concerns. I stress again that tenants have rights outlined in legislation and we want to ensure those rights can be protected. If people need information we are happy to supply it.

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