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Fire Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Questions (221, 222)

Colm Burke

Question:

221. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action being taken by local authorities to ensure that landlords are complying with minimum standards and current fire safety regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35581/21]

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Colm Burke

Question:

222. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a report is available from each local authority in respect of the action that they have taken over the past three years to ensure that landlords are fully compliant with the current fire safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35582/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.

The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural condition, sanitary facilities, food preparation, storage and laundry, the availability of adequate heating, lighting and ventilation, the safety of oil, electricity and gas installations, fire safety and refuse facilities. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority.

My Department has made significant Exchequer funding available to local authorities in recent years, with the result that the number of minimum standards inspections undertaken more than doubled from 19,645 in 2017 to 40,728 in 2019, with a similar increase in the number of properties becoming compliant from 3,329 to 7,206. In order to assist local authorities increase inspection rates further and strengthen compliance, an increased budget of €10 million is being made available this year. However pandemic restrictions have severely impacted on both inspections and enforcement activity since March 2020.

In response to the pandemic some local authorities have been piloting virtual inspections. Dublin City Council have led this initiative, which entails landlords receiving a checklist for self-assessment and being required to submit photographic/video evidence by email, tenants being invited to raise any non-compliance issues they are aware of and to confirm if the landlord’s checklist answers are correct, and the Council reserving the right to conduct a physical on-site inspection when it is safe to do so.

While virtual inspection systems present certain challenges and limitations, they do offer a way of improving the standard of rental accommodation despite the pandemic. My Department is encouraging local authorities not involved in the pilots to consider adopting them and providing Exchequer funding to those that do.

Annual data in respect of the level of minimum standards inspections carried out by each local authority is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.

Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, landlords as persons having control over premises have responsibilities to ensure fire safety on those premises. Fire Authorities have powers of inspection and enforcement. Fire Services are independent in exercising their functions under the Fire Services Acts. My Department does not have specific information regarding inspection and enforcement in rented properties. Fire safety in all properties, especially dwellings is of importance. My Department has published a range of guidance on fire safety in houses and flats, be they rented or owner occupied, which are available on my Department's website. Central to this is having working smoke alarms, testing them weekly, dealing with obvious dangers such as smoking materials, and having an escape plan.

Question No. 222 answered with Question No. 221.
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