asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any plans to use the powers conferred on him under section 25 of the Housing Act, 1982 to compel landlords of private rented accommodation to issue tenants with rent books.

175.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on his intentions regarding the entitlement of all tenants to the provision of rent books, with specific regard to section 25 of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982; and when he envisages making regulations to provide for rent books for all classes of rented dwellings.

177.

asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes, under section 25 of the Housing Act, 1982, to introduce regulations which would make it compulsory for landlords to provide tenants of private rented dwellings with proper rent books; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 175 and 177 together. The Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Regulations, 1982 oblige landlords to provide tenants of formerly controlled dwellings with rent books. The question of extending this requirement to all private rented dwellings is under consideration in the context of a general review of the private rented sector.

Is the Minister aware that four out of every five tenants in private rented accommodation neither receive receipts, or are furnished with rent books? Is he aware that those most vulnerable in this respect are single, ageing citizens, young students and workers? Would the Minister confirm that the position as outlined by Threshold is not being given any serious consideration? Furthermore, is he aware that very often tenants are intimidated when they attempt to demand of landlords their rights to receipts or rent books, resulting in many cases — with particular respect to this vulnerable section of the community — in their being given notice to quit on account of such attempts? Would the Minister agree that it is not good enough——

I asked for brevity.

——that one can get a receipt for a packet of cigarettes and yet people who hand over substantial sums by way of weekly rents, as of now, are not furnished with receipts although they should be equally entitled to such?

I take the Deputy's point. I am having all of that examined at present and hope to be able to come up with proposals to rectify the matter.

Would the Minister confirm that his senior Minister in the Department, in reply to a similar question over 18 months ago, said at that time that the matter was under review? Would he confirm to the House that the consistent refusal of this Coalition Government to make rent book regulations mandatory is a positive contributor to the black economy?

I am certainly not in favour of the black economy. We are looking into the matter and hope to be able to come up with proposals shortly.

Since seven years have now elapsed since the relevant Act was passed by the Oireachtas would the Minister not agree that this constitutes an inordinate delay? Can he give the House a commitment to have these regulations introduced, at the very latest, during the next Dáil session?

The matter is now being examined. We shall do what we can. I am aware the position is unsatisfactory. We hope to be able to rectify the matter if at all possible.

They are subsidising the black economy.

Is the Minister aware of the tremendous difficulty presented for people who would otherwise be eligible for rent allowances — those vulnerable tenants — who cannot prove that they are weekly tenants because of the absence of a rents receipt book? Is the Minister conscious of the tremendous problem confronted by those eligible for such rent allowances but who are being rendered ineligible because of the absence of a rent book?

We are having repetition.

I can assure the Deputy that all of that matter is being examined.

In view of the statement made by the Minister for the Environment in the House in March last that he did not want to do anything which would lead to the withdrawal of accommodation from the market, discourage investment and so on, would the Minister of State now agree that it appears to be Government policy to continue to encourage the black economy and the resultant massive tax evasion resulting from the absence of such rent books?

We are not encouraging the black economy. If the Deputy cares to look through our debates he will see that the measures taken by my Department, by way of grants and so on to abolish the black economy, speak for themselves. I reject that assertion completely. It is not true.

Would the Minister of State, with responsibility for this matter and apparently with considerable knowledge thereof, confirm or deny to the House that a comprehensive draft set of regulations, to give effect to the introduction of the provision of such rent books, have been submitted to his Department? If he can so confirm would he then indicate what is unacceptable about those draft regulations?

All of that has to be examined. We do not like to introduce any regulations unless we can be sure they are capable of being effectively implemented. I do not want to get into that arena now——

The Minister is in that arena already.

We are examining the overall position to ascertain what we can do in this respect.

Is the Minister denying that he received such draft regulations?

I am calling Question No. 15.