John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 191: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of members that currently sit on the board of the Private Residential Tenancies Board; when they were appointed and the different backgrounds they were appointed from; if there are currently vacancies on this board; the length of time these vacancies have existed; when he expects to fill such vacancies; the sectors from which new appointments to the board might come; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8362/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Board of the Private Residential Tenancies Board must number not less than nine and not more than fifteen members, including the Chairman. Board membership currently consists of thirteen people from legal, academic and relevant sectoral backgrounds, along with one local authority official and one official from my Department. Nine of the Board members were appointed on 28 October 2004, one member was appointed on 21 December 2007, and three members were appointed on 22 February 2008.

While there is scope for two possible further appointments arising from the expiration of the terms of office of outgoing members on 31 December 2007, the current Board membership exceeds the minimum number required under section 153 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Any further appointments to the Board would be made in accordance with that section, which requires that members of the Board shall be persons who, in the Minister's opinion, have experience in a field of expertise relevant to the Board's functions and that the Minister shall, in so far as is practicable, ensure gender balance in appointing members.