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Legislative Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Questions (126)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

126. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 24 September 2014, if he will provide a reason the provisions of the 2009 and 2014 Acts have not been commenced up to now; when it is expected to commence them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40935/14]

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Written answers

Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, relating to rental accommodation arrangements, has not been commenced to date because it is dependent on commencement of section 31 of that Act concerning rent schemes and charges, which was amended in 2013 and in 2014. Commencement of section 31 is due to begin in the coming months and, when the provision is fully in operation, consideration will be given to bringing Chapter 4 of the 2009 Act into force, having regard to progress on the phased introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme currently under way. Consideration will be given to commencing section 29 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 as part of the programme of key reforms in relation to the delivery of social housing supports, set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, published on 26 November last.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 was enacted in July and the majority of Parts 1, 4 and 5 have already been brought into operation. As indicated in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, I intend in the first quarter of 2015 to commence Part 2 of the Act, which introduces a new court procedure for the recovery of possession of local authority dwellings and strengthens the powers of housing authorities to obtain court orders to exclude persons engaged in anti-social behaviour from local authority accommodation and estates. Furthermore, I intend to commence Part 3 of the 2014 Act, relating to tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along the incremental purchase model, in the second quarter of 2015.

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