Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25936/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PTRB) has provided a strong regulatory framework for the private rented residential sector. Since its establishment, the Board has achieved considerable success in the registration of tenancies, with in excess of 220,000 tenancies now registered, compared to no more than 30,000 under the previous system of registration.

The PRTB has a function of reviewing the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and of making recommendations for the amendment of the Act and any other related enactments, where this is considered necessary. The PRTB has recently identified possible amendments to the Act that may enhance the Board's operations, and these are being considered by my Department.

The operation of the dispute resolution service under the 2004 Act is the responsibility of the PRTB itself, given its independent statutory status under the Act. I am conscious that an efficiently operating disputes resolution system is a central part of the Board's work. I understand that the PRTB is currently reviewing its operations and processes in the context of developing a new Corporate Plan, within which priority attention will be given to the optimisation of all aspects of the Board's work, including its disputes resolution service. Having fully provided for the funding of the PRTB's activities each year since its establishment in 2004 and having also recently secured a significant increase in the Board's permanent staff from 26 to 40, which is the full complement requested, I am satisfied that the resources now in place are sufficient to allow the Board to address issues arising from its Corporate Plan and discharge its functions efficiently and effectively.