Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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424. To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has any function, or role, from a public health point of view, in relation to rats, rodents and infestation in persons' houses, which enter the property from adjoining properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7849/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the HSE that their Environmental Health Services main involvement with pest control is in dealing with complaints from members of the public and advising on remedial measures to be taken to protect public health.

The responsibility for keeping land or property rodent free under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act 1919 lies with the owner or the occupier of the land. Section 1 of the Act states that: "Any person who shall fail to take such steps as may from time to time be necessary and reasonably practicable for the destruction of rats and mice on or in any land of which he is the occupier, or for preventing such land from becoming infested with rats or mice, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine”.

Where an authorised officer of the HSE is of the opinion that the occupier of any land or property has failed to comply with the legislation, a notice may be served. This notice will require the occupier to take the remedial steps necessary as set out in the notice within a specified timeframe. If the occupier fails to take the necessary steps the authorised may enter the land or property and take such steps as are necessary and reasonably practicable for the purpose of destroying the rats and mice or of preventing the land from becoming infested with rats and mice. The HSE may recover any reasonable expenses incurred from the occupier of the land or property summarily as a civil debt.