Government vows to improve rented homes
Junior Minister Noel Ahern has announced plans to improve the standard of private rented accommodation in Ireland.
Mr Ahern made the announcement today at the launch of the latest annual report from the housing organisation Threshold.
The report is severely critical of the Government's failure to improve minimum standards for private rented accommodation.
It says Threshold received 785 complaints from tenants last year about issues like rat and mice infestations and a lack of heating or cooking facilities.
Mr Ahern admitted today that reform of the private rented sector had been neglected for decades and insisted that the Government was committed to improving the situation.
He said a programme of measures involving increased regulation, enforcement and funding would be set up in line with commitments made in the latest social partnership agreement.
