Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authority homes, per local authority, which are designated bed-sits; the number of them that are for senior citizens; the time schedule for their replacement in view of the EU ban in the private rented sector on bed-sits; and the way the rebuilding or replacement programme will be funded. [10096/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The 2006 Census of Population enumerates 8,751 bedsits, housing 14,480 people. Of these 1,028 were provided by local authorities. According to the census, just over 250 of these local authority units were occupied by persons aged 65 years or over, representing less than a quarter of a percentage (0.22%) of the total local authority stock in 2006 (115,386). Of the units in question, 203 were provided by Dublin City Council, and account for 0.75% of the total city council stock in 2006.

In the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, the Government committed to updating and more effectively enforcing the minimum standards regulations for the rental sector and recently delivered on this commitment by approving a package of measures including the phasing out of the traditional bed-sit by 31 January 2013. Those elements of the package not requiring primary legislation, including those relating to bed-sit accommodation, have been introduced through new regulations to replace those made in 1993 and came into effect on 1 February 2009.

Accordingly, 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 and no new bed-sits can be rented. However, in so far as existing accommodation is concerned, i.e. properties which have been rented at any time between 1 September 2004 and 31 January 2009, a period of four years (to 31 January 2013) has been allowed for landlords, including local authorities, to undertake the necessary remedial works to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Each year local authorities expend some €150 million on the maintenance and improvement of their stock, an d these improvement works programmes include remedial action necessary to convert bed-sits.