Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department is considering proposals to restrict legally the requesting of booking deposits from potential tenants by letting agents for private rented accommodation; and his views on whether it should be permitted for letting agents or landlords to accept booking deposits for accommodation and then choose an alternative tenant. [10641/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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 Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.`

The requesting and acceptance of booking deposits by letting agents from potential tenants of private rented accommodation, and any related rights and obligations, are not part of a tenancy and do not come within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act. I have no plans to amend the Act in this regard at this time but will keep the matter under review.