Sinn Fein has published a motion on standards in the private rented sector, after RTE Investigates revealed the poor standards people are living in.
Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said the motion will be debated during private members time in the Dáil on Tuesday, 07 November.
Deputy Ó Broin said: "NGOs such as Threshold, tenants' rights groups and journalists have also been raising the issue for years. The revelations in last Thursday's RTE Investigates were therefore shocking but not surprising.
"Since the National Government and Oversight Committee (NOAC) published its report a year ago, we have known there has been a low level of local authority inspections of properties in the private rented sector. This then leads to a low level of enforcement proceedings being issued, resulting in a high level of non-compliance by landlords.
"Local authorities currently do not have a robust inspection regime in place. However we must also bear in mind there has been a 30% reduction of local authority staff since 2008. Also, housing departments are under huge pressure due to increased demand on their services due to the housing and homelessness crisis.
"The Sinn Féin motion calls on the Minister for Housing to set out a plan for ensuring compliance with minimum standard regulations in the private rented sector and for the adequate resourcing of local authorities so that they can put in place a more comprehensive inspection regime. The motion articulates the need for a review of the penalties faced by landlords when they breach minimum standards."
(CD/LM)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
20/11/2024
MDE has been awarded the electrical services contract for the Clondalkin School Development Project in Dublin. Working alongside Cunningham Contracts Ltd., the company will serve as the specialist electrical contractor for the construction of new facilities for Gaelscoil na Camóige, Gaelscoil ...
20/11/2024
In celebration of European Week for Waste Reduction, the Northern Ireland Resources Network (NIRN) has launched an environmental education programme to promote zero-waste principles among young people. Three schools from the ABC Borough—St Francis Primary School in Lurgan, St Patrick's Primary ...
20/11/2024
Work has begun at hospital sites across Northern Ireland as part of preparations to eliminate car parking charges by May 2026. Health and Social Care Trusts are installing the necessary infrastructure for a new traffic management system, following the passing of the Hospital Parking Charges Act by ...
20/11/2024
Fine Gael has accused Sinn Féin of abandoning its commitment to protect consumers from rising energy costs, claiming that the party's policies could lead to increased costs for 2.1 million customers. The criticism comes after Sinn Féin's alternative budget last month proposed retaining the ...
20/11/2024
SDLP Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Patsy McGlone has urged Minister Andrew Muir to take decisive action to protect the environment, rather than launching additional reviews. The comments came after Minister Muir announced a review into environmental governance during an ...
20/11/2024
Alliance Strangford MLAs Kellie Armstrong and Nick Mathison, along with Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly, recently visited the tidal research experiment at Queen's University Marine Laboratory (QML) in Strangford. The project, funded by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE), is ...
19/11/2024
Phoenix Energy has been awarded an international standards accreditation from the British Standards Institution (BSI) in recognition of its inclusive service approach for customers in vulnerable situations. The certification highlights Phoenix Energy's commitment to providing fair, flexible, and ...
19/11/2024
Seating Matters is investing £3.7 million to enhance and improve its manufacturing facilities in Limavady and L'Derry. The company is aiming to support its bold strategy to triple revenue by 2027. Making the announcement while visiting the company's Limavady site Economy Minister Conor Murphy ...
19/11/2024
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has urged the Minister and the Executive to take immediate action to address problems within Northern Ireland Water. Mr Durkan warned that the current state of the wastewater system is creating significant delays for infrastructure projects across ...
19/11/2024
Galway City Council will hold a public information evening on affordable housing on Monday, November 25, 2024, from 4pm to 8pm at the Connacht Hotel, Old Dublin Road, Galway. The event will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about how affordable housing operates. Council staff will be ...