Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a certification scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34734/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Residential Tenancies Act in September 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector.

My Department conducted a review of the Residential Tenancies Act in 2009 with a specific emphasis on whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and on 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 in April 2010. Consideration of the introduction of a certification system did not feature in any of the recommendations arising from the review. The Government approved the preparation of the Heads of a Bill to deliver on the review's recommendations. Full details in relation to the background to the review, the associated terms of reference and the outcomes of the review are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34735/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Residential Tenancies Act in September 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector.

Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations in relation to all rented properties. Regulations setting out minimum standards for private rented accommodation generally were first set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. However it became clear in recent years that these standards no longer reflected the requirements of the modern rental sector and in the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 the Government committed to updating and more effectively enforcing the minimum standards regulations for rented houses.

In September, 2006, my Department launched the programme Action on Private Rented Accommodation Standards . Arising out of this programme, new regulations prescribing minimum standards for rented accommodation, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, came into effect on 1 February 2009, with certain provisions being phased in for existing rental properties over a four year period to allow time for the carrying out of the significant remedial work that may be involved in achieving compliance.

My focus is on ensuring that local authorities' inspection regimes are focused on the areas of greatest need and that the regulations are fully implemented. I do not propose to assign any responsibility for inspections to the PRTB.