Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

779. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of meetings a working group (details supplied) held; the dates of these meetings; the composition of the delegation from his Department; the progress of the report that was promised in quarter one, 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10178/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The appointment of a receiver to a dwelling can cause confusion and distress to tenants and, in circumstances where a receiver is appointed to a rented dwelling, it is essential that the rights of tenants are protected.

Under Action 5 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, my Department has established a working group with the participation of the Departments of Justice & Equality; Finance; and Business, Enterprise and Innovation, to examine the scope for amending legislation to provide for greater protection of tenants’ rights during the receivership process.

The objective is to protect the rights of tenants during the receivership process by ensuring that persons appointed as receivers will be required to fulfil the obligations of a landlord. To inform its work, the working group has sought legal opinion on the feasibility of amending legislation to provide greater protection of tenants’ rights during the receivership process. The working group expects to finalise its report shortly.

The working group has met on three occasions to date: 23 February, 23 March and 11 October 2017. An assistant secretary from my Department's housing division chaired the first meeting of the working group and my Department has subsequently been represented at principal officer level.