Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the commitment in the Housing for All policy to introducing minimum BERs in the private rental sector from 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5495/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed under Housing for All to developing a roadmap to implement minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards, where feasible, for the private rental sector. This action is aimed at both improving the quality of housing stock available to rent and contributing to meeting our overall national climate targets in relation to emissions reduction.

Research has been undertaken under the joint research programme my Department operates with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The primary focus of this research is an exploration of the investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector, including an analysis of the financial capacity of landlords to invest in retrofitting energy efficiency measures. I understand that this research will be published later this month. The findings of the research will inform future policy in this area.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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415. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to expand the rent pressure zone scheme to include additional designated areas in which rent increases are capped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5499/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were introduced under Part 3 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. Rent controls are applied on the basis of the objective evidence available via the RTB Quarterly Rent Index Report. Currently, approximately 82% of tenancies across the country are subject to rent controls.

Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2024 sets out the process for designating RPZs. For the purpose of the Act, ‘area’ is defined as either the administrative area of a housing authority or a Local Electoral Area (LEA) within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001.

The criteria to be satisfied by an area under section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act for designation as an RPZ are as follows:

• the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal, and
• the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, is:

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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416. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to extend the rent pressure zone scheme beyond 31 December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5500/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to my reply to Question No. 217 of 13 February 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.