Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to publish revised regulations for standards in private rented accommodation used by persons who receive a rent supplement; the reason for the delay to date; if his attention has been drawn to the wide scale low standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27788/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The revision of the minimum standards regulations for private rented accommodation is an important element of An Action Programme to Promote Improvement in Standards, which was launched on foot of the Towards 2016 social partnership agreement, and is also a core component of the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. A general review of the regulations has been carried out, in consultation with relevant interests, and account has been taken of relevant recommendations in two reports published in November 2007 by the Centre for Housing Research on measures to promote improvement in private rented accommodation standards.

On foot of that work, a small working group comprising local authority and sectoral representatives was convened by my Department to input into the final drafting of the revised regulations. That group has met a number of times and consultations have also taken place with the Community and Voluntary Pillar under Towards 2016.

A significant number of very useful proposals emerged from these consultations and I intend to address these to the greatest extent possible in the revised regulations or, where necessary, in primary legislation. While the issues raised were of considerable scope and complexity, I expect to be in a position to submit proposals to Government in September, with the associated regulations being made shortly thereafter. Any issues requiring primary legislation will be addressed in the context of the passage through the House of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which I expect will be published shortly.

The revised regulations will cover all private rented accommodation, not just properties which are the subject of rent supplement payments. My Department has ongoing discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs, which has lead responsibility for the operation of the rent supplement scheme through the Community Welfare Service, regarding the need to match rent supplement payments to accommodation of an adequate standard. In addition, my Department has recently written to all housing authorities to emphasise the importance of ensuring regular liaison with, and appropriate action between, housing authorities and Community Welfare Officers in order to ensure that rent supplement-supported private rented accommodation meets the requirements of the minimum standards regulations.