Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the national oversight and audit commission report on rented house inspections published in October 2016 and, in particular, on the findings in the report of the low inspection levels in many local authorities, the 55% non-compliance rate in properties inspected and the €1.3 million shortfall in funding in the private rented sector functions in 2014. [35442/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to developing a real and meaningful strategy for the rental sector to enable it to develop to its full potential. Ensuring quality accommodation standards in the sector is an integral part of this process. Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. The Regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply.  With very limited exemptions, these regulations apply to local authority and voluntary housing units as well as private rented residential accommodation.

To ensure that the standards reflect the requirements of a modern rental market, a review of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended, has been initiated. The review is at an advanced stage with new regulations currently being finalised.

The findings and recommendations of the National Oversight and Audit Commission’s report, Rented Houses Inspections - A Review of Local Authority Performance of Private Rented Houses Regulations Functions will be carefully considered in the context of the development of a s trategy for the rental sector, which is well under way in my Department. As indicated in Rebuilding Ireland – an Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness, a number of measures in relation to improving the enforcement of standards in the rental sector will be considered, including a move towards delivery of enforcement services on a regional basis.