Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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555. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his view on a matter regarding the Private Residential Tenancies Board (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41674/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Due to the quasi-judicial role of the PRTB it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specifics of any case. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 is currently before the Oireachtas and will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, inter alia, for the introduction of a new procedure to enforce a tenant’s obligation under section 86 of the 2004 Act to pay rent pending the determination of a dispute. Furthermore, a s part of the Government’s recently announced package of measures in relation to the rental sector, the enforcement of PRTB determination orders will no longer have to be pursued through the Circuit Court but will be dealt with in the District Court. In general, this will provide for the faster hearing of enforcement cases and will save expense. The Bill also includes a provision to prevent a Notice of Termination from being found to be invalid on the basis of a technicality.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 has passed all stages in the Dáil, together with Committee Stage in the Seanad. The Bill will return to the Seanad for Report and Final Stages today.

Given the sustained increase in demand for PRTB services, approval was provided for an additional 9 staff and the Board is in the process of recruitment to fill these posts which will bring the number of personnel up to 42. Further resources are to be made available in the context of the implementation of the package of measures in relation to the rental sector, referred to previously.