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Gnáthamharc

Wednesday, 28 Apr 2021

Written Answers Nos. 470-488

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Ceisteanna (471)

Cormac Devlin

Ceist:

471. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Programme for Government commitment to reduce emissions into coastal seas in particular Dublin Bay by upgrading the Irish Water treatment network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21624/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.

In respect of upgrades relating to Dublin Bay, the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant was originally designed and built to treat wastewater for a population equivalent of 1.64 million and is now overloaded. In response, Irish Water is currently undertaking a major upgrade of the plant. This upgrade will increase the capacity of the plant to cater for the growing population of the Greater Dublin Area and will address compliance with EU law.  Planning permission was granted for the project in April 2019, and the project is currently underway. 

The Programme for Government commits to funding Irish Water’s capital investment plan for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis and deliver the €8.5 billion funding package committed to in Project Ireland 2040.   Given a legacy of underinvestment in water services infrastructure in Ireland, the scale of remedial work necessary in our water and wastewater systems will take a number years and investment cycles to fully resolve. 

It is recognised that our waste water networks require ongoing and sustained investment to bring these up to the required standard of treatment; to deal with population growth; and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. In this regard, significant investment in waste water infrastructure continues and is provided for in the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan. It is estimated that €1.9 billion will be invested in waste water projects between 2019 to 2024.

Wildlife Conservation

Ceisteanna (472)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

472. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if steps will be taken to remove red and amber listed birds from the Open Seasons Order given they are threatened birds of the highest conservation concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21675/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The latest review of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland was published in the last couple of weeks. I have met with BirdWatch Ireland staff who were among the authors of the report to discuss it and I am considering the various issues  arising.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (473)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

473. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a year by year schedule of retrofitting to meet the target of 500,000 homes by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21676/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme for 2021 is a newly revised Programme which involves a move from a 'shallow' to a 'deeper' retrofit of local authority homes. The new programme has been designed around the Programme for Government commitment to retrofit 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal BER standard by 2030. Approximately 36,500 of those homes are expected to be local authority homes. A target of 2,400 social homes for upgrade works has been set for 2021, 750 of which relate to the Midlands Retrofit Pilot. The move from a 'shallow' to a 'deeper' retrofit of local authority homes under the new programme this year will inform the programme in future years, including the annual targets.  

Climate Change Policy

Ceisteanna (474)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

474. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional staff (details supplied) will be considered to develop climate action teams at local authority level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21680/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

While my Department has an overarching role in terms of local government, the recruitment and appointment of local authority staff is a matter for each local authority in accordance with section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, which provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.

My Department does not have any role in relation to local authority functions that come within the area of responsibility of another Government Department or State body. Overall responsibility for climate action rests with my colleague the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.

Defective Building Materials

Ceisteanna (475)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

475. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will carry out an urgent review of the financial assistance that will be required by the State to include County Clare under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will include properties in the information received to date from Clare County Council and the serious concerns of affected families residing in these properties across the county. [21689/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department received correspondence from Clare County Council in October 2020, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant to County Clare. A comprehensive reply was subsequently issued to the Council in November 2020.  

My Department informed the Council that before any extension of the scheme can be considered the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. Following further discussions between my Department and Clare County Council it was agreed that the local authority would take a lead role in determining, in accordance with the IS: 465 protocol, that issues arising in homes in County Clare are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks and secondly quantify the likely extent of the problem in the county.

Such analysis will provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme. Pending the receipt of such analysis it would be premature to consider an extension of the scheme.

Turf Cutting

Ceisteanna (476)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

476. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person can continue to cut turf on their own private bog on land that they own. [21724/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Ireland's approach is to recognise the traditional right to cut turf for domestic purposes, while balancing this with our obligations under the Habitats Directive. This balanced approach is based on a respect for and understanding of that tradition and has been carefully nurtured to build trust and work with stakeholders to save the natural heritage of Ireland's bogs. 

In that context, the National Peatlands Strategy recognises that domestic turf cutters have a traditional right to cut turf for their own use and that this right is balanced with the conservation objectives for designated bogs and the legal obligations on the State.

Questions Nos. 477 and 478 answered with Question No. 440.

Homeless Persons Data

Ceisteanna (479)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

479. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the findings of a recent survey (details supplied) of persons that are homeless. [21736/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this work as a priority. Homelessness is complex and causal factors and family circumstances vary considerably as do the responses needed. Homelessness is also inter-related with the other areas of the housing system and with broader social and healthcare policy and service delivery.  Therefore, a whole of Government approach is required in dealing with this challenge.

The research referred to by the Deputy was conducted by Inner City Helping Homeless via their listening service ‘BABS’.  I will be continuing to accord priority to working with my colleagues in Government to ensure the delivery of the appropriate responses to the issues which are the focus of this report and to addressing homelessness more generally.  These issues are also closely inter-related with broader social and healthcare policy and service delivery matters.

The High Level Homelessness Taskforce I established on my appointment as Minister and which continues to meet regularly is providing a forum for engagement with key front line organisations working to address issues such as these. 

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (480)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

480. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding his Department has allocated to each local authority for the purpose of maintenance and repairs of council houses in each of the past five years. [21737/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. 

Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, my Department does provide annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of funding programmes.

Under the Voids Programme, my Department has supported local authorities in refurbishing vacant social homes and returning them to productive use. This funding programme was introduced in 2014 and has to the end of 2020 returned 16,102 properties to use with funding of €229m from my Department.

In 2020, my Department rolled out the largest ever voids funding programme with additional funding of €40m secured by me under the July Stimulus Programme. Overall funding of €58.3m was made available to local authorities towards 3,607 vacant local authority homes last year.

Under the Energy Efficiency Programme, my Department funds the carrying out of retrofitting works to local authority dwellings. From 2013-2020 the Programme was implemented in 2 Phases: Phase 1 Attic Insulation/Cavity Wall Insulation and Phase 2 focuses on the fabric upgrades to dwellings. Over the period 2013 to 2020 over 73,500 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €161m under the scheme (most of which were completed under Phase 1).

Under the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme, my Department funds local authorities in carrying out necessary adaptation works to local authority properties to cater for the needs of elderly and disabled tenants and families living in overcrowded conditions in local authority properties. Since 2011 my Department has provided exchequer funding of some €120m to support this programme.

Under the Regeneration Scheme, my Department funds programmes of estate regeneration in a number of targeted areas around the country. These projects seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. Projects being funded under the Programme target the country’s most disadvantaged communities, including those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. Since 2015 over €300m of exchequer funding has been provided to support this programme.

Since 2011 my Department has provided funding of over €800m under the above stock improvement schemes.

It is important to note that my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under various stock improvement programmes support this approach.

Traveller Accommodation

Ceisteanna (481)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

481. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated to each local authority specifically for Traveller accommodation in each of the past five years; the local authorities that received funding; the local authorities that returned portions of the funding; and the amount returned in each case by local authority. [21738/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

Following a review of the arrangements for the disbursement of funding for the provision and related supports of Traveller specific accommodation a new allocation process was implemented for 2020. My Department has ceased the practice of allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities.  Instead, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department.  My Department’s capital budget of €14.5m for Traveller Accommodation was drawn down in full in 2020.  Officials from my Department will continue to make regular contact with each local authority throughout 2021 to support and facilitate the development of effective Traveller accommodation projects.

The breakdown of funding requested, broken down by the amount allocated and that drawn down, by local authorities is outlined in the table below.  It should be noted that funds are held in the Department and recouped to local authorities on the basis of claims recieved.  Therefore, the return of funds from local authorities to my Department does not arise.

County Council

Allocation

Drawdown

Allocation

Drawdown

Allocation

Drawdown

Allocation

Drawdown

Drawdown

 

2016

2016

2017

2017

2018

2018

2019

2019

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carlow

€130,000

€0

€207,905

€71,450

€167,740

€0

€70,000

€381,898

€206,986

Cavan

€8,600

€9,398

€13,729

€13,729

€30,000

€0

€95,458

€94,500

€13,114

Clare

€200,000

€0

€169,194

€42,444

€853,250

€13,250

€635,000

€669,389

€174,032

Cork City

€400,000

€301,796

€1,108,344

€97,000

€310,000

€180,250

€275,799

€42,319

€1,504,850

Cork County

€30,000

€0

€110,000

€93,156

€251,197

€0

€258,390

€184,745

€133,684

Donegal

€82,000

€74,532

€147,613

€15,100

€121,800

€52,775

€161,816

€0

€245,498

Dublin City

€1,405,198

€762,342

€414,829

€734,209

€1,321,558

€744,400

€1,628,695

€895,197

€2,066,977

Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown

€419,095

€129,552

€1,500,000

€1,857,313

€673,686

€1,099,940

€0

€32,834

€747,750

Fingal

€26,842

€0

€26,847

€17,420

€851,189

€886,957

€0

€848,957

€486,858

Galway City

€40,000

€0

€209,000

€95,102

€176,996

€0

€0

€0

€861,334

Galway County

€117,000

€123,816

€625,000

€0

€1,080,100

€267,032

€1,412,596

€670,440

€1,107,714

Kerry

€57,000

€255,730

€28,566

€28,566

€15,350

€62,538

€77,200

€75,131

€15,773

Kildare

€200,000

€0

€80,000

€0

€80,000

€29,510

€1,000,000

€360,231

€261,110

Kilkenny

€377,500

€431,714

€582,162

€563,040

€201,682

€60,067

€21,682

€408,856

€125,638

Laois

€0

€0

€0

€0

€30,000

€0

€0

€0

€192,520

Leitrim

€18,800

€12,794

€98,875

€59,933

€159,614

€54,306

€178,390

€0

€375,635

Limerick

€81,000

€21,209

€69,576

€219,918

€858,739

€470,997

€1,015,179

€1,424,782

€2,370,922

Longford

€2,900

€0

€2,922

€0

€2,922

€0

€2,922

€0

 

Louth

€0

€444,484

€237,087

€220,048

€17,039

€3,810

€132,531

€341,863

€287,087

Mayo

€0

€0

€0

€0

€30,000

€0

€0

€0

€215,951

Meath

€120,000

€76,877

€129,000

€5,750

€65,000

€0

€75,000

€91,790

€58,845

Monaghan

€0

€0

€0

€0

€400,000

€54,745

€100,000

€0

€423,201

Offaly

€73,000

€37,775

€847,917

€101,616

€49,379

€10,999

€815,117

€692,329

€499,833

Roscommon

€50,000

€10,808

€52,617

€123,191

€230,000

€102,274

€253,084

€73,843

€148,168

Sligo

€0

€0

€161,249

€9,931

€1,046,095

€282,883

€1,435,913

€1,131,397

€1,193,489

South Dublin

€63,000

€26,397

€1,024,289

€0

€869,643

€1,284,101

€130,557

€106,719

€284,390

Tipperary

€900,000

€1,399,370

€327,492

€399,337

€25,655

€42,003

€25,655

€0

€156,731

Waterford

€263,000

€13,545

€545,000

€22,610

€317,280

€472,726

€170,000

€77,562

€14,549

Westmeath

€208,000

€48,000

€0

€0

€150,000

€0

€100,000

€0

€114,326

Wexford

€96,000

€87,695

€6,880

€0

€498,801

€0

€335,000

€52,870

€30,382

Wicklow

€46,000

€0

€52,648

€43,773

€209,620

€88,783

€104,533

€0

€180,305

Reserve

€85,065

 

€221,258

 

€905,665

 

€2,489,484

 

 

Total allocation

€5,414,935

 

€8,778,742

 

€11,094,335

 

€10,510,516

 

 

TOTAL

€5,500,000

€4,267,834

€9,000,000

€4,834,636

€12,000,000

€6,264,345

€13,000,000

€8,657,652

€14,497,654

 

Tourism Industry

Ceisteanna (482)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

482. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered providing targeted supports to zoos and aquariums such as Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21757/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has been involved in discussions with the zoo sector throughout the period of the pandemic in connection with difficulties faced by the sector as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions and to consider how my Department might be of assistance.

In November 2020, Minister O’Brien and  I announced funding of €1.6 million for the zoo sector, to encompass all licensed zoos including aquaria. The funding was allocated in the form of a grant scheme, open to the 69 licensed establishments in Ireland. This was aimed primarily at preventing an animal welfare crisis as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

While the State does not ordinarily provide funding to the zoo sector, these measures were put in place in the context of the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic and the effect it has had on these establishments.

The fund was to cover zoos’ ongoing costs in relation to maintaining animal welfare standards during the winter period.  As well as having responsibility for licensing, inspection and regulation of zoos, my Department is responsible for ensuring compliance with welfare standards in accordance with the Irish Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, which set out best practice and strict standards for animal well-being.

A fund of €500,000 was available to assist small and medium size zoos and aquaria. A separate fund of €1.1m was provided to the two largest zoos, Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park, in order to prevent these nationally important zoos from closing.

This financial support recognised the vital role played by our zoos as networks for global conservation of biodiversity, as centres of learning and places where lifelong memories of families and children are made.  This emergency funding will also safeguard employment and stimulate local economies in recovering by ensuring the continued operation of viable zoo establishments throughout the country.

My Department’s NPWS has continued to monitor the situation closely and is in regular contact with zoos and aquaria, as well as the sector’s representative body, on a range of issues including the positive impact of the funding in 2020 and what supports might be needed in 2021.

Wildlife Data

Ceisteanna (483)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

483. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department collects data on the estimated number of birds killed on an annual basis by coming into contact with onshore and off-shore wind turbines; if so, if he will provide such data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21887/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

When granting planning permission for wind turbines or wind farms, planning authorities may in some cases include post-construction monitoring as a condition of that planning permission. Carcass searching around the base of some or all of the turbines in the target wind-farm may be part of such post-construction monitoring.

Such data, as a condition of planning consent, would generally be supplied to the planning authorities; my Department does not have a role in its collection. 

However, the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan, currently being finalised in my Department, sets out the need for a centralised repository for reports of this data to help inform the conservation management of Hen Harrier and other terrestrial  bird species that may interact with turbines.

Irish Language

Ceisteanna (484, 485)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

484. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit facilitate persons wishing to engage with their services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21906/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

485. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all forms issued by his Department and agencies under his remit are available in both the Irish and English languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21924/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together.

My Department is committed to its obligations under the Official Languages Act and associated legislation.  Section 11 of the Act provides for the preparation by a public body of a scheme, specifying the details of the services it proposes to provide through the official languages.

My Department published its fifth Language Scheme in May 2020.  The Scheme was developed to strengthen the emphasis given to the Irish language in the daily conduct of the Department’s business, taking account of what is reasonably practicable over the next three years. 

The Scheme is available on the Department’s website in the Irish language at https://www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/45aec-sceim-teanga-2020-2023/ and in the English language at gov.ie - Irish Language Scheme 2020-2023 (www.gov.ie).

Customers that wish to engage with the Department through the Irish language will be responded to either in writing or orally, in Irish.  Arrangements have been put in place within the Department to have Irish speakers available for oral communication.  Both in-house and external translators are consulted for all written communication received and responded to in Irish, to ensure that the service provided is of a high quality.

In general, my Department does not receive forms from members of the public but will continue to supply local authorities with circulars and associated forms in a bilingual format, where such documents are used directly by local authority staff to provide services to members of the public.

The ongoing implementation of the language planning process has a statutory footing under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, which is the primary driver in support of the commitment to the achievement of the objectives set out in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 to 2030.

This is recognised in the National Planning Framework (NPF), which refers to the preparation and implementation of language plans at community level.  Objective 29 of the NPF “supports the implementation of language plans in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks”.

Separately, the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, sets out mandatory objectives for local authorities, which must be addressed in the drafting of their County Development Plan governing local development policies.  Section 10(2) of the Act includes a requirement that, where there is a Gaeltacht area within the planning authority’s territory, the development plan must include provisions and objectives for “the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht including the promotion of Irish as the community language”.

My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis.  These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the attached table.

State Body

Contact E-mail Address

An Bord Pleanála

oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie

An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum)

info@nationalwaterforum.ie

Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority

info@ahbregulator.ie

Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum

infodocklands@dublincity.ie

Ervia

oireachtas@ervia.ie

Gas Networks Ireland

oireachtas@ervia.ie

Heritage Council

oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie

Housing Finance Agency

oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie

Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency

publicreps@housingagency.ie

Irish Water

oireachtasmembers@water.ie

Land Development Agency

oireachtas@lda.ie

Local Government Management Agency

corporate@lgma.ie

National Oversight and Audit Commission

info@noac.ie

National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee

ntacc@housing.gov.ie

Office of the Planning Regulator

oireachtas@opr.ie

Ordnance Survey Ireland

Oireachtas@osi.ie

Property Registration Authority

reps@prai.ie

Pyrite Resolution Board

oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie

Residential Tenancies Board

OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie

Valuation Office

oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie

Valuation Tribunal

info@valuationtribunal.ie

Water Advisory Body

info@wab.gov.ie

Waterways Ireland

ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org

 

Housing Policy

Ceisteanna (486)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

486. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the documentation that is acceptable to prove residence for an exemption of non-principal private residence; if there is a consistent list of documents accepted for each local authority to ensure fairness (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended by the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011, provides the legislative basis for the NPPR charge.  The NPPR charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.  The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum.

The Act places the charge under the care and management of local authorities and my Department has no direct role in its administration. The application of the charge in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. The Act also provides that the owner of a residential property may apply to the local authority for a certificate of exemption in respect of exemptions under section 4 of the Act.  It states that, in relation to a certificate of exemption, a local authority is entitled to whatever information it requires in order to be satisfied that a property is exempt and has 14 days from the date it receives such information to make a decision.  A refusal of a certificate of exemption can be appealed by the applicant to the District Court.

Residential Tenancies Board

Ceisteanna (487, 488)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

487. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties which are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board in each local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22054/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Colm Burke

Ceist:

488. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of landlords that have been prosecuted in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in each local authority area for failing to register their properties in which those properties are occupied by tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22055/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.

On 1 July 2019, the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) expanded the regulatory role of the RTB. Since July 2019, the RTB can proactively monitor the rental sector and investigate and sanction landlords who engage in certain breaches of rental law, including the none-registration of tenancies. An important aspect of this regulatory role is that the RTB can commence investigations both on information received from members of the public as well as by using open source data and data available to the RTB, as outlined in the legislation. If a landlord is found to have committed a breach, a sanction can be applied ranging from a formal written caution to a fine of up to €15,000 and/or costs of up to €15,000.

My Department does not collect the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil 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 set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.

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