Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will put it another way. What appeals system operates in regard to the conduct between a local authority landlord and a tenant? What controls operate in regard to the implementation of work on these houses? In this particular case, the tenants came to me and I went to the local authority to make the case, but there was nobody policing the policemen in this particular regard. However, it is these very local authorities who send out large demands to landlords. The landlords are being issued with requirements by an authority that does not itself comply with good standards. Demands are made on landlords for grass to be cut and sewerage work to be done, etc., but the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill does not take any account of this.

As far as co-operative housing is concerned, I believe there should be some provision for a tenant to become an owner at some stage. Why are tenants excluded from ownership of any of the houses in these co-operative housing schemes? They can be tenants for years and years, but get no opportunity to have a home for life or to buy into their houses. If housing co-operatives could dispose of tenancies this would bring some funding into the system which could be reinvested in further development.

I welcome the fact that NAMA has dealt with some of the co-operative housing schemes and presume the Minister of State was involved in the approval of an application to refurbish approximately seven houses in one of these semi-ghost estates. This is a welcome development.

The longer these estates remain empty, the more the properties will deteriorate. Without regular heating, a house will degrade very quickly. If action is not taken now, many of these houses will become uninhabitable. In that context, the Minister of State's approval of the purchase of a certain number of properties by a co-operative organisation is very welcome. These units will now be refurbished and provide decent accommodation for people in need of housing.

There can be little doubt that the cost factor must have discouraged significant numbers from applying to register a tenancy. The Minister of State is aware of the statistics for the numbers of people renting houses and the fact that there is a lower collection rate than is the case with the television licence fee. The information is coming in very strongly to the Department on property tax registrations. The data will show exactly the number of rented properties and whether the tenancies were registered. If an individual was paying the non-principal private residence charge of €200, it is surely obvious that he or she is liable for registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

I note the Minister of State's intention to introduce amendments on Committee Stage. I am sure she is aware that some years ago a Green Party councillor from County Monaghan was appointed to the Private Residential Tenancies Board by the former Minister, Mr. John Gormley. This individual was obliged to resign from the board and then resign from the council before being reappointed to the board. This practice of excluding local authority members from participation in boards of this type is an issue we have raised in the House many times. The former Minister of State, Mr. John Curran, was one of the few Ministers who provided, in the Charities Act 2009 he brought through the Houses, that local authority members should not be excluded per se from such membership. There was to be no right of appointment but neither was their appointment prohibited. As far as I can see, however, that prohibition stands in the Bill. Will the Minister of State comment on this?

I could talk at length about the provisions and benefits of the Bill, but my time is up. I fully support the legislation, the drafting of which began during my party's period in government. There is a clear need for the consolidation of services and the appeals system and these provisions are very welcome. I hope the Bill will proceed quickly through the Houses and that its provisions will be implemented without delay. I look forward to the Minister of State's response to my queries regarding local authority accommodation. In particular, will she indicate whether there is an appeals system within the Department to deal with disputes between tenants and the local authority or if that is a matter entirely for the housing offices of local authorities?