Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on introducing legislation to allow local authorities or the Private Residential Tenancies Board to conduct unannounced spot inspections for health and safety and fire prevention reasons of accommodation in the private rental sector. [17393/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is not proposed to sponsor legislation on these lines.

Under section 18 of the Fire Services Act 1981, as amended by section 29 of the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003, a person who has control over premises used for the provision of sleeping accommodation, other than a dwelling house occupied as a single dwelling, has a statutory obligation to take all reasonable measures to prevent the outbreak of fire in such premises; to provide, and ensure the application of, reasonable fire safety measures and appropriate fire safety procedures for ensuring the safety of persons on the premises, and, in the event of fire, to ensure the safety of persons on the premises. Fire authorities have power to inspect all such premises at any reasonable time and to take appropriate action including giving advice, serving fire safety notices and closing down premises. Local authorities also have adequate powers to carry out inspections in pursuance of their functions under the Housing Acts in relation to the standards of rented accommodation.