Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will reconsider the four-year time frame for compliance with proposed new rental accommodation standards regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43160/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether from 1 February 2009 not even the current minimal standards can be enforced on landlords of existing dwellings as they will inevitably claim the four year exemption. [43058/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be passed into law by the end of this session in order to meet the projected target of 1 February 2009 for the implementation of the standards reform package. [43054/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 37 and 42 together.

Minimum standards regulations for rental accommodation are currently prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. These regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, absence of damp and rot, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply. In the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, the Government committed to updating and more effectively enforcing the minimum standards regulations and recently delivered on this commitment by approving a package of measures. A number of elements of this package require amendments of primary legislation and these are being addressed during the passage, through the Oireachtas, of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, currently before the Seanad. These include increased penalties for non-compliance and the introduction of a more robust sanctions regime.

Those elements of the package not requiring primary legislation will be introduced through new regulations to replace those made in 1993. Regulations for this purpose, which will be made shortly, will come into effect generally on 1 February 2009. However, taking account of views expressed in wide-ranging consultations during the development of the new standards package, certain elements of the new regulations will not come into effect for existing rental accommodation until 1 February 2013 as it will be necessary to allow time for the carrying out of the significant remedial work that may be involved in achieving compliance.

The aspects covered by those provisions — sanitary facilities, heating facilities and food preparation, storage and laundry — will therefore continue to be subject to the relevant provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Housing) Regulations 1993 until then, in so far as existing rental accommodation is concerned. However, any rental properties being let for the first time after 1 February 2009 will have to comply with all the requirements of the new Regulations.