Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Minister with responsibility for housing to the Seanad and it is great to get to meet him. I very much welcome and support this emergency rental protection measures Bill that will ensure a rent freeze and moratorium on evictions is in place until 10 January 2021. As a renter, I have also gone through the experience of knowing what it is like to receive notice both in Dublin and Galway cities.

I ask about the relevant person element of the written declaration. In Dublin a notice came from the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, to inform tenants of what is available and the improved rights but will the written declaration be allowed by email? If a landlord looks to increase a person's rent and the person is availing of emergency schemes, can the person in question alert the RTB? How many staff are working in the RTB on this?

I know many people have moved from rental accommodation and I very happy to see the extension of the 90-day notice of termination for failure to pay rent. Representatives have mentioned challenges and I compliment Threshold on its work, particularly in the Galway area. When people needed validation of notices for eviction prior to the Covid-19 period, it has always allowed tenants extra time. I also promote the housing assistance payment scheme as well. I thank the Minister and look forward to his response. The Money Advice & Budgeting Service is an excellent agency and it is very important the RTB takes the initiative there to connect people with that service.