Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of inspections that have been carried out by local authorities of privately rented properties by city and county councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4502/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of inspections of privately rented properties by local authorities where the minimum standards were not met nationally; if he will provide a breakdown for each city and county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4503/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 and 596 together.

Minimum standards for private rented accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Failure to do so is an offence, subject, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €3,000, or a term of six months in prison or both and €250 for each day of a continuing offence. Responsibility for enforcing the regulations rests with the relevant local authority. The number of inspections of private rented accommodation carried out on a county/city basis, and the number of dwellings inspected which did not meet the statutory requirements, as reported by local authorities, are published in the Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.