Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 586 to 589, inclusive, together.

The Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems.

On 1 July 2017, updated regulatory standards, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, came into effect. These Regulations focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. In August 2017, my Department published a guidance document to assist and support local authorities in implementing the new Regulations.

All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority, previously supported by a dedicated stream of funding provided from a portion of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees, collected by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

Between 2005 and 2017, over €36 million has been paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 229,000 inspections were carried out during this period.

The Rental Strategy recognises the need for additional resources to be provided to local authorities to aid increased inspections of properties and ensure greater compliance with the Regulations. Provision has been made for €4.5 million of Exchequer funding to be made available to local authorities in 2019 for this purpose, with the intention of providing further increases each year in the period to 2021 to facilitate a targeted inspection coverage of 25% of rental properties annually at that stage.

Information in relation to Improvement and Prohibition Notices is set out in the tables.

Detailed information in relation to inspections carried out by each Local Authority since 2005 can be found on my Department's website at the following link: .

Information in relation to 2018 is currently being collated by my Department and will be available on my Department's website shortly.

Enforcement of Statutory Regulations for Private Rented Accommodation - 2015

Enforcement of Statutory Regulations for Private Rented Accommodation - 2016

Enforcement of Statutory Regulations for Private Rented Accommodation - 2017