Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of inspections of private rented accommodation carried out by Louth, Meath, Limerick, Kildare, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal county councils, Cork City Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; the findings of the inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39371/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation.

All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties, regardless of tenancy type, comply with these regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.

Data in respect of inspections undertaken by ten local authorities in 2019 and to the end of June 2020 is set out in the attached table. Q3 data is being collated.

Pandemic restrictions have reduced the number of inspections carried out this year.

My Department has made significant Exchequer funding available to local authorities in recent years, with the result that the number of inspections undertaken more than doubled from 19,645 in 2017 to 40,998 in 2019, with a similar increase in the number of properties becoming compliant from 3,329 to 7,206. In order to assist local authorities increase inspection rates further and strengthen compliance, an increased budget of €10m has been approved for 2021.

Detailed information in relation to inspections carried out by each local authority since 2005 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of improvement notices, prohibition notices and prosecutions arising from inspections of private rented accommodation carried out by local authorities in 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39380/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation.

All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties, regardless of tenancy type, comply with these regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.

If an inspection identifies that a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the Local Authority to determine the necessary and appropriate actions to take, including the issuing of an Improvement Letter, Improvement Notice and Prohibition Notice, and the initiation of legal action.

Data in respect of the number of Letters and Notices issued and the legal actions initiated by local authorities in 2019 and to the end of June 2020 is set out in the table below. Q3 data is being collated.

Pandemic restrictions have impacted on both inspections and enforcement activity in 2020.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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247. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of dwellings that were deemed to be overcrowded under the Housing Act 1966 or other legislation by local authorities in 2019 and to date in 2020; if action was taken in relation to the properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39382/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not collect specific statistical information on the estimated number of overcrowded households, as sought by the Deputy.

Housing statistics that are collected by my Department can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link:

.

However, the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) does collate information on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area. Table 2.5 and Table A1.5 of the summary ‘Main Need for social housing support’ reports on the number of households that are qualified for and in need of social housing support due to their current accommodation being overcrowded. The most recent SSHA for which data has been published was conducted on 24 June 2019 and the results are available on my Department’s website at the link below:

It should be noted that due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the 2020 assessment was delayed and has only recently been conducted. The summary of the 2020 assessment will be published in due course.