Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue addressed by Threshold in its report published this morning. It states more than 2,000 complaints have been received from tenants who are being evicted because they have received notice that major renovations to their properties are to be carried out. There is no definition of "major renovations". I believe the Residential Tenancies Board is to issue directives in the near future on what it means and how a landlord can be covered under the terms of legislation. Threshold has received over 2,000 calls. I have been visited by a number of people in my office who are participating in different schemes, be it the housing assistance payment scheme or the rental accommodation scheme, and who have been told by their landlords that they have to move out. The landlords want to put up the price of their accommodation. I know that the Residential Tenancies Board is also concerned about the fact that more than half of the complaints have been received from people whose landlords have said they have to move out because they want to move in family members. In many of these cases that is just an excuse to get the tenants out and seek higher rents. Something has to be done about the matter. I would like the Leader to bring it to the attention of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.