Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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511. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration has been given to increasing local authorities powers to enforce minimum standards in private rented accommodation, including allowing local authorities to compulsory purchase order properties in an unliveable state, where the current owner has not taken steps to address issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32271/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.

Responsibility for the enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority.

If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and appropriate. They can issue an Improvement Letter or serve an Improvement Notice. In most cases they opt for the former. Where a landlord fails to comply with an Improvement Notice, the local authority may serve a Prohibition Notice (which directs that a dwelling cannot be re-let until all contraventions are remedied) and may consider instituting legal proceedings.

Under Section 34 of that Act, any person who by act or omission contravenes the Regulations, fails to comply with an Improvement Notice, or re-lets a house in breach of a Prohibition Notice, will be guilty of an offence and will be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both. While the rental standards Regulations are kept under review, I have no plans to change local authority enforcement powers at this time.

The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. A total of €10.5 million in Exchequer funding is being made available by my Department to local authorities this year to help them meet their private rental inspection targets.

The number of rental inspections conducted by local authorities has increased significantly in recent years. Increasing from an average of 20,000 a year in the period 2005 to 2017 to over 49,000 in 2022, over 63,500 in 2023, and an all-time-high of over 80,000 in 2024. Annual data in respect of the level of inspections and enforcement actions carried out and legal actions initiated by each local authority is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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512. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action he will take to minimise any negative impacts of the new rent pressure zone changes on students, who due to scarcity of purpose built student accommodation, are left reliant on the private rental market. [32148/25]