Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that tenancy agreements offered by voluntary housing associations to social housing tenants permit summary eviction under 19th century legislation Deasy's Act 1860; if he will consider the introduction by means of a statutory instrument of a standard tenancy agreement to be offered by such bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17141/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Act sets out the law relating to the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords in the sector, rent and rent reviews, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act 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 Act in 2009 and among the recommendations arising was that the remit of the Act be extended to the large majority of tenancies within the voluntary and cooperative housing sector. The drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill, which will give effect to recommendations of the review, was approved by Government in July 2011 and the Bill is currently in preparation by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in collaboration with my Department.