Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the criteria used to determine the duration of the eviction moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11835/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022. The Act made emergency provision to defer the termination dates of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the 'winter emergency period', beginning on 30 October 2022 and ending on 31 March 2023. The aim of the Act was to mitigate the risk that persons whose tenancies would otherwise be terminated during the winter would be unable to obtain alternative accommodation.

In determining the emergency period, regard was had to the meteorological winter period which, according to Met Éireann, covers the period from 1 December to the end of February and to the similar Treve Hivernale in France. Regard was also had to the pressures on homeless services during the winter period.

The decision was taken to extend the deferral to cover the months before and after the meteorological winter period to extend its protections for persons whose tenancies would otherwise be terminated during the colder months.

It should be noted that notices of termination, where they have been served by a landlord on or before 29 October 2022 and specify a termination date that falls during the 'winter emergency period' will take effect in a staggered way, in accordance with the Act, over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has plans to amend the data sharing arrangements in place with the Residential Tenancies Board to impose more comprehensive reporting obligations in relation to disputes between landlords and tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11836/23]

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.

Section 123 of the Acts provides, inter alia, that the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shall publish dispute determination orders issued by its Director. These orders can be found on the RTB website at www.rtb.ie/dispute-case-outcomes.

Section 151 of the Acts requires the RTB to provide information to the Minister on such matters relating to its functions and the rented sector, as may be requested by the Minister from time to time.

I have no plans to alter the RTB's data sharing arrangements in the manner described. However, the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022, the residential rental market and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) are kept under constant review by my Department to ensure that the legislation is fit for purpose.