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

I can understand from where the amendments are coming, but I am concerned to ensure the local authority communicates well with tenants. My concern is that if there was a blanket requirement to permit a local authority tenant to have an authorised delegate in all dealings with the local authority, it could hinder and delay the normal process of landlord and tenant communications. In the majority of cases the tenants can handle the issue. I accept that the advice and assistance of public representatives and other voluntary organisations are helpful and this happens in practice. The problem I have with extending it in a formal way is that it would formalise the practice of bringing in someone every time a tenant dealt with a local authority. In practice, that would delay the process and depersonalise the communication. I would prefer to see local authorities improve their communication practices, where necessary. Some are excellent. It should become the norm that the local authority, as landlord, deals properly with tenants. My concern is that formalising the practice through these amendments would create an arrangement that would become the norm, delays communication and makes things more difficult rather than better for the majority of tenants.

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