Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of bedsit units of accommodation in the various councils around the country; his plans to upgrade this bedsit accommodation to one bedroom status in line with modern standards of acceptable accommodation; and if Ireland has signed up to any international obligations in respect of the development of better standards of accommodation. [30823/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have detailed information on the number of bedsit units in the local authority housing stock. However, the number of such units is likely to be very small as local authorities have not constructed bedsit accommodation for many years. My Department's current social housing design guidelines indicate that local authorities should provide dwellings with separate bedroom-bedrooms and living areas in all instances.

Neither does my Department have detailed information on the number of bedsits in the private rented sector. Tenancy registration is the statutory responsibility of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, the PRTB, an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act. The PRTB has published extracts from its register of tenancies, including a description of the dwelling type, which is available for viewing at its offices at Canal House, Canal Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 or on its website.

The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993 prescribe minimum standards applying to rented residential accommodation in both the public and private sectors. The provision of bedsit accommodation is specifically dealt with by the regulations which prescribe minimum requirements regarding toilet and bath-shower facilities.