asked the Minister for the Environment when it is intended to introduce regulations under section 26 of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982.

6.

asked the Minister for the Environment when the public register of private rented accommodation, which was promised in the Fine Gael-Labour Programme for Government, will be published.

I propose to take Questions No. 5 and 6 together.

In my reply to Question No. 222 of the 16 February 1983 and in the reply given by the Minister of State to Question No. 18 of 27 February 1983 it was indicated that consultations would take place with housing authorities on the scope of a registration system for private rented accommodation, the standards to be prescribed in regulations under section 26 of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982 and the question of enforcement and administration related to these matters. Consultations with representatives of housing authorities have since taken place and I am at present considering how best to proceed in the light of these consultations, bearing in mind the need to ensure as far as practicable that adverse consequences do not ensue either for the supply of private rented accommodation or the levels of rents charged for such accommodation and that whatever registration requirements and standards may be applied will be capable of being enforced effectively by local authorities.