John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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1062. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he proposes to prioritise and bring into effect a rental deposit protection scheme in Ireland, as was set forward in 2015 legislation. [58915/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. It should be noted that, unlike many other jurisdictions examined, Ireland already has a well-established quasi-judicial dispute resolution process in place whereby, the RTB offers a dispute resolution process to landlords and tenants and any deposit protection scheme will continue to require access to such a resolution process.

Section 12(1)(d) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (the RTA) provides that, subject to certain conditions, a landlord shall return or repay promptly any deposit paid by the tenant to the landlord on entering into the agreement for the tenancy or lease.

Section 19B of the RTA provides that the total amount that a tenant is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy is restricted to no more than the equivalent of two months’ rent (i.e. any deposit cannot exceed one month’s rent and any advance rent payment cannot exceed one month’s rent).

Where there is a dispute regarding the retention or refund of a deposit, the tenant may bring a dispute to the RTB for resolution. www.rtb.ie/dispute-resolution-services/submitting-a-complaint-vs-submitting-a-dispute

The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022, included an action to examine the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, informed by best international experience. The primary aim of this examination was to provide an international comparison of different models of deposit protection, with a view to drawing lessons prior to the possible implementation of a deposit protection scheme in Ireland.

The Housing Agency has completed an examination in line with the Housing for All action and I am considering its contents and the options the Agency has outlined. It is important that any new measures introduced in the rental sector are done so in a fair, measured and balanced manner.