Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to bring forward legislation to amend the Private Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to deal with deficiencies in the original Act which have become apparent over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6116/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides the main legislative framework for the private rented sector and, in particular, for the operation of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). My Department conducted a review of the Act in 2009 with a specific emphasis on 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. The outcomes of the review were announced by my predecessor as Minister of State and, in April 2010, the Government approved the preparation of the Heads of a Bill to deliver on the review's recommendations. I am at present evaluating those recommendations and associated legislative proposals and I intend to come to an early decision as to how best to proceed in this regard.