Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the Residential Tenancies Board will resolve an ongoing issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this issue has been ongoing since July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1373/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the 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 Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the implementation of the new tenancy management system is an operational matter for the RTB.

I am aware that some landlord and agent customers are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy management system and unfortunately, it has taken longer than expected to overcome these issues, but the RTB has given its assurance that it is committed to working collaboratively and constructively with the sector to move through this period.

The RTB has assured my Department that their customer service teams are spending considerable time with landlords supporting their transition over to digital services, or continuing to support them where paper applications may be more appropriate for them. My Department continuously engages with the RTB to ensure that they are availing of the resources and support available to them in transitioning to this new system and resolving these issues.

The RTB has a very robust process in place for the management of Oireachtas queries. The RTB adheres my Department's Circular Letter LG (P) 05/16 on Oireachtas queries which includes the statutory timeframe which apply namely to acknowledge receipt of the correspondence within 2 working days; and provide a substantive reply within 14 working days.

The RTB has confirmed they respond to the majority of the queries on time, however given the increase in volume, on a small number of occasions towards the end of 2022, this was not possible. I believe however that the issue in question is being addressed by the RTB.