John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason RTB funding was not awarded to County Wicklow in 2015, 2016 and 2017; his views on the fact that such funding was not granted in view of the fact that it was granted in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52132/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department, as part of the funding process, conducts spot checks of local authorities’ private rented inspections procedures and records to verify that proper records are being maintained, that money being spent is for the purpose allocated and that value for money is being achieved.

Wicklow County Council was among the local authorities selected and a spot check was carried out in March 2016. As Wicklow County Council was unable to satisfy my Department at the time that it was adequately meeting its obligations in accordance with the terms of the scheme, the release of funding for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 has been set aside, pending satisfactory implementation by Wicklow County Council of the Department's recommendations in relation to its inspection and enforcement function, at which point the funding will be made available. 

My Department remains available to discuss further and support Wicklow County Council in addressing these issues and enabling the drawdown of the allocated funding.