asked the Minister for Justice if he will take steps to set up a fair rents tribunal which would ensure that fair rents are charged for accommodation such as flats and bedsitters and protect the public against overcharging in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fair Rents Tribunal.
71.
The setting up of a fair rents tribunal would involve an extension of the existing scope of rent control, which was last reviewed in connection with the Rent Restrictions (Amendment) Act, 1967. It is not proposed to extend control to flats or rooms that are exempt from control at present.
Is the Minister aware that many people, including young married couples who cannot be housed by the local authority and single girls who come to Dublin to work, are being exploited by unscrupulous landlords and that there should be some sort of control to protect these people?
A very great deal of control is at present exercised under the rent restrictions legislation. It may well be that many people who are entitled to the benefit of that legislation are unaware of that fact. A great deal of property in Dublin and in other cities is still subject to rent control but, unfortunately, young married couples and others are unaware of this. If they inquired more deeply into the matter they might discover their rights.
(Interruptions.)
I think there is a definition in the Rent Act, 1960.
Are the Minister and his officials not aware that the rent of a furnished room for a young girl is now £4 to £5 a week, whereas some years ago it was about 30s? It is all right for the Department of Justice remote in Government Buildings——
We have been out of Government Buildings for years.
Well, wherever you are. The Minister is certainly remote from Rathmines and Rathgar——
We seem to be getting away from the question.
——when it comes to controlling rents.
There are very much wider social issues involved in this and they were considered very fully here in 1960——
Ten years ago.
——and in 1967 in connection with the amendment of the Rent Restrictions Act. I think there is general agreement that you will get no sort of housing development unless there is some gradual de-control. There was agreement then and some gradual de-control was brought in under these Acts, but there is still a very great deal of control, more so, I think, than under corresponding legislation in Britain.
Would the Minister agree that employed in his own Department as typists are young girls who are paying exorbitant rents and, in order to meet those rents and keep themselves properly, they have to deprive themselves on occasion of proper meals? The situation is as bad as that. Would the Minister look into it because it is causing a considerable amount of hardship to young married people and young single girls from rural areas working in the city?
As I pointed out, a great many of these cases may, unknown to the people concerned, be already covered by the Rent Acts.
No.
The people engaged in this type of exploitation are well aware of the law and well aware of the loopholes.
More aware than the Minister is.
Would the Minister consider the possibility of introducing a register of furnished flat landlords so that there will be some way of knowing how many there are and some way of pinpointing offenders where they exist? As I understand it, there is no register.
There is no register of the type suggested by the Deputy. I am afraid legislation would be necessary and the proposal would have to get a good deal of thought.
Would it be too much to ask the Minister to give it some thought?
It would take years in the Department of Justice if it takes two years to fix up the Land Registry.
The Chair wishes to point out that questions which are not taken by five o'clock will be postponed until next week. At this stage we are roughly half way through. Questions not taken today will be postponed to next week. Questions finish at five o'clock.
What you are suggesting, Sir, is that we should have no more speeches. I entirely agree.