Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to improve security of tenure for those in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22749/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides for significantly improved security of tenure in the private rented sector while respecting the rights of accommodation providers to regain possession where there are valid grounds for this. In particular, the Act provides for 4-year tenancy cycles, and, once a tenancy has lasted 6 months, it can only be terminated during the remaining three and a half years of the cycle for a limited range of specific reasons set out in the Act. The Act also includes a number of requirements relating to termination of tenancies, including a significant increase in the length of notice — related to the duration of the tenancy — that landlords are required to give in order to terminate a tenancy. Disputes or complaints in relation to these or other provisions of the Act can be brought to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

I understand that the security of tenure provisions in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 are operating well, and there is no proposal currently for amendments to these provisions. It is a function of the PRTB to keep the operation of the legislation under review and to make recommendations regarding any amendments considered necessary.