Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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630. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if measures will be introduced to strengthen renters’ rights, including increasing RTB powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3579/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Recent Governments have introduced significant changes to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 - 2024 (RTA) in recent years to enhance protections for tenants and increase the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

T he RTB was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy. My Department continues to work with the RTB to ensure it is sufficiently resourced to deliver on its expanded mandate.

The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future, published on 23 January 2025, commits to continuing its support for renters and landlords. This includes measures to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Residential Tenancies Board and establishing statutory deadlines for dealing with complaints. The Programme for Government also commits to build more cost rental units through the Land Development Agency, local authorities and Cost Rental Equity Loan funding to Approved Housing Bodies, embedding cost rental as a category of tenure on a permanent basis.

I will work with my colleagues in Government to implement changes as necessary for the sector during this Governments term and my Department and the RTB keep the operation of the RTA and the residential rental sector under constant review and will work to ensure that an appropriately balanced policy and legislative framework is maintained.