Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 290: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a two month backlog in the processing of registration applications by the Residential Tenancies Board; the actions he intends to take to redress this situation. [19980/06]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 291: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Private Residential Tenancies Board public office and telephone line is now only open from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Monday to Friday; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the PRTB state that this temporary limitation of service is due to the volume of correspondence received; and if in view of the difficulties this limitation of service is causing for tenants in the private rented sector he will make additional resources and staff available to the PRTB to meet with its obligations under the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. [19981/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together.

These matters are responsibilities of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. It is a matter for the Board to determine how its statutory functions can most effectively be performed and to deploy resources having regard to demands and priorities. Substantial resources are being provided to the PRTB to meet the high level of demands on its services. There is currently a total of 42.5 staff working in the PRTB, which also receives ongoing support from my Department. The PRTB has also engaged a panel of 175 mediators and adjudicators to assist with its dispute resolution functions. An increased provision of €3.707 million is available to fund the PRTB's administration and services in 2006, compared with an outturn of €1.737 million in 2005.