Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2018
604. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the enforcement of Part IV of the Housing Act 1966; the number of notices served under section 65 in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22388/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnforcement of Part IV of the Housing Act 1966, which deals with overcrowding, is a matter for each local authority in its role as housing authority for its relevant functional area. The information requested by the Deputy is not collected by my Department.
Under that Act, a housing authority may request information from the owner or occupier of a house such as will allow that authority to determine if a house can be deemed to be overcrowded, having regard to section 63 of the Act.
The housing authority may serve notice on the owner of a house, specifying the maximum number of persons that may occupy a house without causing overcrowding and, where the owner of a house is causing or permitting the house to be overcrowded, may require the owner to desist from causing or permitting such overcrowding within a period not exceeding 21 days.
Any person who neglects or refuses to comply with these requirements is guilty of an offence. Overcrowding may give rise to concerns in respect of fire safety, and may lead to enforcement action by fire authorities. Situations of overcrowding should be reported to the relevant local authority.
