Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2017
149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to publish all reports and related documentation received by him from the Residential Tenancies Board and the Housing Agency relating to the extension of rent pressure zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5082/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of all contracted work in the analysis of data or any other work associated with the designation of rent pressure zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5110/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 153 together.
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 amends the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to establish whether or not it meets the criteria for designation and to report to the Minister on whether the area should be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone.
The reports received from the RTB and the Housing Agency in relation to the designation of further rent pressure zones are available on the websites of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) at http://www.rtb.ie/rentzones and the Housing Agency at https://www.housingagency.ie/getattachment/Our-Publications/Private-Rented-Sector/17-01-24-Rent-Pressure-Zones-lt-to-Minister-Coveney.pdf.
The cost to the Housing Agency and to the RTB of performing their functions under the Act is a matter for the agencies involved and my Department does not collate such information. The Clerk of the Dáil has requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB and the Housing Agency have set up dedicated email addresses for this purpose at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie and publicreps@housingagency.ie, respectively.
