Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on proposals to reform the workings of the Private Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24284/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year I announced my intention to review the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review is to consider whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB in the delivery of those functions or the broader good working of the private rented sector.

My Department has now commenced this review, which I hope will yield preliminary outcomes by Autumn 2009. As part of this process, my Department is consulting with relevant stakeholders, including with the PRTB itself and landlord and tenant representative organisations. Advertisements were also placed in the print media at the end of May 2009 seeking the views of the general public.

The Board, in fulfilment of its remit to advise on policy aspects and the general operation of the Residential Tenancies Act, has already submitted to my Department a number of suggestions for legislative improvements and it is hoped to address the most critical of these in the context of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, currently before the Oireachtas, with the remaining proposals being considered further in the context of the review.