Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of private rented dwellings registered in each local authority area and the number of private rented dwellings in each area registered for the first time in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25066/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) registers tenancies in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. While the Act requires landlords to register tenancies in respect of private rented dwellings there are certain classes of dwellings that do not fall within the provisions of the Act such as, for instance, dwellings let by local authorities, dwellings let as holiday homes and dwellings in which the landlord also resides. The number of tenancies registered each year cannot be taken as a proxy indicator of annualised lettings due to the exemptions referred to above and also due to the fact that a proportion of tenancy registrations are re-registrations of existing tenancies.

While I have no function in these matters as the operation of tenancy registration is solely the responsibility of the PRTB, an independent statutory body, I understand that in excess of 217,000 active tenancies are currently registered with the PRTB. Further information is available on the board's website at www.prtb.ie or may be obtained directly from the board which may be contacted at its offices at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2 or by telephone or email; contact details are available on the board's website.