Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will investigate the cases of persons (details supplied). [16151/04]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Dublin City Council is responsible for enforcing the Housing Rent Books and Housing Standards for Rented Houses Regulations 1993 in cases such as this. I have therefore referred the matters to that authority for investigation of a possible breach of these regulations. Any contract, whether verbal or written, entered into between the persons and the estate agent in question would be subject to resolution ultimately through the courts. The Small Claims Court deals with claims in respect of the non-return of rent deposits provided that a claim does not exceed €1,269.74. The normal practice for deposits generally is that they are refunded on the termination of the tenancy unless there are arrears of rent or other charges owing or there is damage to the property beyond what would be attributable to normal wear and tear. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has responsibility for the auctioneering and house agents legislation and is in the process of establishing a working group to review the legislation governing the activities of auctioneers and property letting agents. Any relevant issues that have arisen for the persons in question from their dealings with the estate agent in question might be appropriate for submission to that working group.