Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the housing statistics for inspection of the private rental sector will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21317/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the new regulations for the private rental sector will be published; his views on greater funding for local authorities to their compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21318/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 355 and 356 together.

Details of the inspections of private rented accommodation carried out, the dwellings inspected which did not meet the statutory standards and prosecutions initiated up to 2006 are included in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. It is expected that similar information in respect of 2007 will be published in July.

Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 1993. These Regulations are currently being reviewed with a view to updating them as part of an Action Programme to promote improvement in standards of rental accommodation. I expect to be publishing revised regulations in July.

In addition, my Department is providing significantly increased funds from the proceeds of tenancy registration fees to support local authorities in their inspection functions relating to the private rented sector. Over €7m has been provided to local authorities for this purpose since 2004, and I expect to provide further increased resources in respect of 2008, linked to actual inspection performance.