Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to prevent overcrowding in properties that are rented out to tenants by private landlords; if he has plans to strengthen the existing regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7494/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The key regulations governing the standards of private rented accommodation are the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008. These regulations specify minimum 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; they do not refer to overcrowding.

The issue of overcrowded houses is dealt with in Part IV of the Housing Act 1966. Under that Act, a housing authority may request information from the owner or occupier of a house such as will allow that authority to determine if a house can be deemed to be overcrowded, having regard to section 63 of the Act. The housing authority may serve notice on the owner of a house specifying the maximum number of persons that may occupy a house without causing overcrowding and where the owner of a house is causing or permitting the house to be overcrowded, may require the owner to desist from causing or permitting such overcrowding within a period not exceeding twenty one days. Any person who neglects or refuses to comply with these requirements is guilty of an offence.

My Department provides significant resources to assist housing authorities in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts in relation to the enforcement of the regulatory regime governing private rented accommodation. However, it is a matter for each individual authority to decide the specific details of the enforcement strategy for its area.