Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005
523 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of units of private rented accommodation in use or available for use; and the number of these which are registered with the appropriate authority as required by law. [3511/05]
View answer
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides the legislative underpinning to a modernised private rental sector. Key features of the legislation are provision for a new centralised system of tenancy registration and the establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board as an independent body with a range of specific statutory functions. These include responsibility for the administration of tenancy registration and for the provision of information on registration and the operation of the private rented sector generally. Requests for information relating to these matters may appropriately be directed to the Private Residential Tenancies Board at Canal House, Canal Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. I understand that the board is currently processing a large volume of applications for registration from which the statutory tenancy register will be compiled and that until this work is completed it will not be possible for the board to provide comprehensive data.
Information regarding the number of units of private rented accommodation currently in use or available for use is not available to me. When the statutory tenancy register is completed, this will enable the board to provide a range of enhanced information relating to the private rented sector. The register will not, however, provide data on units available for renting, as dwellings that are not let at any given time would not legally be liable for registration.
