Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the voluntary registration of approved bodies that provide social housing. In 2012 the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, asked the bodies to register voluntarily. Will the Leader obtain for us an update on this issue? There are 700 voluntary housing groups, but very few have of them have registered voluntarily. It may be time to have a statutory requirement to do so. Tenants who move into voluntary housing units require assurance of their tenancy and guarantees on the maintenance and upkeep not only of the house but also of the estate. The public investment in the units needs to be safeguarded and this can only be done by regulation. Since the 700 organisations are not registering voluntarily, I ask the Leader to contact the Minister of State responsible for housing, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on this matter in order that she will bring forward legislation.