Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on his statement of 18 November 2008 that the number of inspections has increased to 14,008 in view of the fact this figure includes re-inspection of the same premises. [43055/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on a statement of 18 November 2008 that the number of dwellings inspected has increased since 2005 when in fact the percentage of dwellings inspected has decreased from 8.14% in 2005 to 6.4% in 2007. [43056/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 55 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 2007 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. The Bulletins record an increase from 6,815 to 14,008 — or over 100% — in the number of inspections carried out between 2005 and 2007. The re-inspection of accommodation by local authorities can be necessary in certain instances in order to ensure effective enforcement and relevant details are therefore included in the overall number of inspections carried out each year.