Vol. 508 No. 1
587 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his atten tion has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has the second lowest percentage of private rented housing in the EU; his views on whether this percentage will increase over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18550/99]
There are various estimates of the percentage of the housing stock which is privately rented in EU member states, but it would appear that the percentage in Ireland is among the lower in the EU. However, the results of the 1997 Labour Force Survey indicate that the percentage of private rented housing in Ireland has increased from 8 per cent recorded in the 1991 Census of Population to 11 per cent in 1997.
I have established a Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector which has been asked to report to me by 1 June 2000. The commission will address, inter alia, the issue of investment in, and the supply of, residential accommodation for renting, including the removal of any identified constraints to the development of the sector.
