Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I will be brief and confine myself to commenting on one or two sections of the Bill. My colleague, Senator Bannon, will deal with many of the technical provisions on Committee Stage.

I welcome the Bill, which is long overdue, and the establishment of the private residential tenancies board. I am glad the issue of registration is being dealt with in a significant way in the Bill. I raised this matter on many occasions during my period of service with my local authority. Surveys carried out throughout the country indicate that only 25% of rented properties are registered. That is absolutely disgraceful. When one is called to an area in one's constituency where anti-social behaviour is taking place or where there are properties which are in an appalling condition and when residents ask one to make representations to the local authority to discover who owns a particular property, in many instances the authority only takes action at that stage to uncover the identity of the owner.

Currently we do not have a proper registration system and I am glad this matter is being tackled in the Bill because action is long overdue. In areas in Waterford that are near to our wonderful institute of technology, many properties are let out as student accommodation. While some landlords are excellent in terms of the upkeep and maintenance of their properties, there are others whose properties one could pick out when canvassing during the recent election campaign because the grass was uncut or wheelie bins were just dumped anywhere. People who live near such properties are tying to keep their houses in good condition. That matter arose on many occasions on the recent canvass. One feels sorry for ordinary, decent people who have lived on estates for 20 or 30 years and who are now contemplating moving because of the condition of nearby houses. The properties to which I refer are in such condition because of the unscrupulous nature of the landlords who own them whose only motivation is greed. Decent landlords ensure their properties are kept in a proper way and well maintained.

Section 12 of the Bill deals with repairs to the interior and structure of properties. However, I am not satisfied that it is sufficiently strong in terms of obliging landlords to keep their properties in good condition and ensure that the grass in the garden is cut, that they are free of litter etc. Landlords must take more responsibility in this regard. I urge the Minister of State to give consideration to this matter.

We are all aware of the problem of anti-social behaviour on the part of some tenants. I refer to people who hold parties and have music blaring at all hours of the night. Gardaí are usually called to take action but the same thing happens night after night. These are the bread and butter issues in respect of which local representatives are called upon by residents of estates to see if something can be done. The Bill presents us with an ideal opportunity to take action in this area. I again urge the Minister of State to give consideration to this matter.

I welcome the provision dealing with the making of exclusion orders against council tenants to which Senator Brian Hayes referred. Will such orders also apply to the private rented sector? Senator Hayes referred to exclusion orders against council tenants and people in subsidised housing but will these orders apply to tenants in the private rented sector? If not, why?

The matters to which I have referred are those about which I am most interested in respect of the Bill. Decent, honest residents who look after their estates and who have worked for their communities are not impressed by the fact that some properties on those estates have been allowed to fall into a bad state of repair. From their point of view, their neighbourhoods are falling into disrepute as a result and the value of their own properties is being devalued.

I welcome the Bill and I hope the matters to which I refer will be copperfastened and strengthened. I also hope that the Minister of State will address my concerns in his reply.