Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
347. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his plans to legislate through the Residential Tenancies Acts for default conciliation as part of the dispute resolution process within the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18005/22]
View answerThe Government recognises that it is in the interest of both the tenant and the landlord to resolve any disputes as early as possible without recourse to lengthy adjudication and tribunal processes. Mediation and conciliation are proven to help resolve disputes at an early stage.
My Department is working with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to better implement its existing mediation powers under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 to deliver faster dispute resolution outcomes, based on mediation agreements between parties. Such outcomes can be achieved under the existing mediation provisions under the Acts. The RTB has agreed that disputes will be resolved via its free mediation service in the first instance, unless one of the dispute parties opt for its adjudication service. The RTB will promote the merits of its mediation service and it is expected that the vast majority of disputes can be resolved through mediation, which is the RTB’s fastest and most successful dispute resolution service. The RTB plan to commence this approach as soon as possible in Q2 2022.
