Questions

368. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, prior to the commencement of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme on 1 December 2023, his Department prepared any policy modelling, capacity assessment or impact analysis of potential participation levels among local authority tenants; whether such analysis informed Cabinet approval; and whether he will…

397. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken any formal governance review of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme since its commencement on 1 December 2023; whether any briefing was prepared by his Department regarding scheme performance relative to projected uptake; and whether any policy modifications are under consi…

394. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date his Department decided to conclude centralised monitoring of the ‘room for a student – local authority tenancies scheme’ after December 2024; the analysis or performance metrics informed that decision; whether any formal submission, briefing note, or internal recommendation supported that decision; and whether he will provi…

395. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the administrative costs incurred by his Department and local authorities in developing, promoting, and operating the ‘room for a student – local authority tenancies scheme’ between December 2023 and December 2024; whether any value-for-money review has been conducted; and whether the cost per additional room delivered has been calc…

396. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the formal reporting framework now exists, if any, to provide his Department with ongoing national oversight of the scheme’s performance; whether any standardised reporting template has been issued to local authorities; and the way he satisfies himself that the scheme remains operational and effective across all local authority area…

402. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department maintains an internal monitoring framework, dashboard or structured reporting mechanism which tracks the number of Notices of Termination issued in the private rental sector as a core housing performance indicator; if so, the frequency at which such data is formally reviewed at senior management or Ministerial…

274. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department receives regular reports, briefings, or statistical updates from the Residential Tenancies Board in respect of notices of termination or eviction notices issued by private landlords; if so, the frequency of such reports; the format in which they are provided; whether they include quarterly or annual aggregate …

275. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department plans to compile, hold, or publish a centralised official dataset on notices of termination or eviction notices issued in the private rental sector, drawing on data held by the Residential Tenancies Board; if not, the reasons such data is not centrally maintained by his Department despite its policy responsibi…

276. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he considers the number of notices of termination or eviction notices issued in the private rental sector to be a core housing performance and policy indicator; if so, the way in which this indicator is monitored and assessed by his Department; if not, the reasons for his position; and his views on the role such data plays i…

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any rental accommodation scheme tenant whose tenancy ends through no fault of their own is guaranteed an offer of alternative accommodation or housing support sufficient to prevent homelessness; to set out the specific statutory, policy, or administrative basis for such a guarantee, if it exists; to clarify the criteria by w…

306. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department first issued formal guidance to local authorities on the operation of the tenant rent-a-room scheme for local authority tenants; which local authorities formally confirmed to his Department that the scheme had been implemented; and the steps his Department took to ensure the scheme was operational in every local …

307. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department required local authorities to submit data on the tenant rent-a-room scheme, including applications received, approvals granted, and rooms made available; whether any regular monitoring or reporting framework was put in place by his Department for this scheme; and if not, the reasons no such oversight mechanism…

308. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has carried out any internal review or evaluation of the tenant rent-a-room scheme for local authority tenants since its introduction; whether the significant gap between projected housing supply and actual delivery has been examined; and the policy changes or corrective actions which are now being considered …

309. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department issued any circulars, directives, or follow-up instructions to local authorities where no applications were received or where the tenant rent-a-room scheme was not operational; and the steps that were taken by his Department to address non-implementation by local authorities. [7210/26]

310. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department assessed administrative, insurance, tenancy, or welfare interaction barriers faced by local authority tenants under the tenant rent-a-room scheme prior to its rollout; whether such barriers contributed to the extremely low uptake; and the responsibility his Department accepts for the failure of the scheme to t…

665. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to ensure that RAS tenants who receive an eviction notice are guaranteed access to alternative accommodation or support to prevent homelessness including through the Tenant-in-Situ scheme; and the timeline by which these protections will be implemented. [6349/26]

666. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department (or the Residential Tenancies Board under its remit) maintains and publishes up to date statistics on the number of eviction / termination notices issued by private landlords; if so, for each quarter since 2022, the number of notices which have been issued; his views on the trends in this figure; and if he wil…

424. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the drafting of the regulations and statutory instruments required to implement the Government’s revised rent control and rental sector reforms due to commence on 1 March 2026; the number of such instruments required; the stage each has reached within his Department; the remaining steps necessary before publica…

425. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted, commissioned, or relied upon any economic, rental supply, or market impact analysis in advance of implementing the revised rent control framework scheduled to commence on 1 March 2026; if so, the nature of that analysis, the bodies involved, whether the findings will be published; and if no such…

256. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has undertaken any impact assessment, economic analysis, or consultation with stakeholders regarding the proposed prohibition of no-fault evictions for landlords with more than three tenancies, due to come into effect on 1 March 2026; the projected number of private landlords expected to exit the market as a result…

228. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps her Department is taking to ensure that the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, due to take effect in March 2026, achieve a fair balance between landlord and tenant rights; and if she will publish any equality or economic impact assessment carried out prior to their introduction. [54459/25]

229. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 will include statutory service-level targets for the Residential Tenancies Board in resolving rent arrears and anti-social behaviour cases; and the targets and resources allocated to achieve them. [54460/25]

230. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department will introduce standardised evidence templates and procedural guidance for both landlords and tenants in termination cases under the March 2026 legislative changes, to minimise procedural errors and ensure fair and efficient dispute resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54462/25]

231. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the impact of private landlord exits on overall rental supply and rent levels nationally; if such assessments are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54478/25]

232. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to introduce any targeted measures or supports aimed at retaining small private landlords in the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54479/25]