Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason no legal arbitrator or independent appeals body exists to mediate between two groups (details supplied). [45365/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on establishing an independent appeals body to mediate between two groups (details supplied). [45366/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority. Approved housing bodies are responsible for the proper management of dwellings provided under the terms of the funding schemes and for compliance with all relevant statutory requirements.

In February 2009, 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. I recently announced the preliminary results of this review, details of which are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.

The review recommends, inter alia, the inclusion within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act of those segments of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector that most closely parallel the current remit of the Act. While a range of issues still remain to be considered, I intend to initiate a comprehensive piece of amending legislation to give effect to the outcome of the review within the next 12 months.