Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of landlords who were found not to have complied with the minimum standards deemed acceptable for habitability in rented accommodation during the 12 month period from January 2007, and from January to October 2008. [35087/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date on which he will introduce the new legal standards for private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35142/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 67 together.

Details of the inspections of rented accommodation carried out in 2007, the dwellings inspected which did not meet the statutory standards, and prosecutions initiated 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 2008 will be published in 2009.

Standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 1993. In line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to update the minimum standards regulations for rental accommodation, work is nearing completion on a package of measures to deliver on this objective. I expect proposals in this regard to be ready for submission to Government shortly, with the associated regulations being made thereafter. A number of issues which require primary legislation will be addressed in the context of the passage through the Oireachtas of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008.