Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2008
1403 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, the position regarding the policy of writing to all registered landlords and sending out an application form to them on the completion of four years in which a tenancy may have been renewed and a new tenant acquired in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30944/08]
View answer1479 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason the Private Residential Tenancies Boards records are being kept incomplete, if the board is not able to establish changes made to a landlord’s records in respect of the property within the period of four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30945/08]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1403 and 1479 together.
My Department has no function in relation to the detailed practices and procedures adopted by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) in relation to record keeping and communications with landlords. The PRTB is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and may be contacted at the Board's offices at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2, or by phone or email. Contact details are available on the Board's website at www.prtb.ie
1404 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of the operation of the Private Residential Tenancies Board since its formation; the fees that have been collected to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30946/08]
View answerThe Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) commenced operations in September, 2004 and receives funding from my Department by way of annual grant. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has made payments for the benefit of the PRTB, primarily for accommodation overheads, and some fixed assets have also been transferred to the PRTB by my Department.
The accumulated total up to 30 April 2008 is €12,811,068 and is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Period to 30 April 2008 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Grant |
154,266 |
1,703,279 |
2,973,787 |
5,739,940 |
1,136,072 |
|
OPW payments |
98,406 |
286,709 |
280,854 |
279,461 |
Nil |
|
Assets Transferred |
158,294 |
||||
|
Total Cost |
252,672 |
2,148,282 |
3,254,641 |
6,019,401 |
1,136,072 |
The PRTB is in receipt of fees for the registration of tenancies under Part 7 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Two sevenths (2/7) of these fees is retained by the PRTB to assist in funding its operations and five sevenths (5/7) is allocated to Local Authorities for the purpose of the performance of their functions in relation to the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, the Housing (Rent Book) Regulations 1993 and other provisions of the Housing Acts related to private rented accommodation.
The PRTB also receives application fees for the use of its dispute resolution services. The total fees collected by the PRTB up to 31/12/2007 are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Total Registration Fees |
152,730 |
4,911,122 |
5,995,772 |
6,156,749 |
|
Dispute fees |
Nil |
18,035 |
38,340 |
36,181 |
