In 2015 we legislated for the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. In that year, the RTB had noted that disputes regarding deposit retentions accounted for 22% of all disputes. Yet, when questioned by my colleague, Deputy Penrose, it seems there is no intention of enacting a tenancy deposit protection scheme. Instead, what we understand is the Government proposes to review the scheme, which is difficult since it is not even up and running. The Government proposes to create new legislation, only the heads of which we can expect to see by the end of this year. We have already enacted legislation. What we require is a statutory instrument, ministerial action, to enact the existing legislative provision to protect tenants' deposits. Will the Taoiseach act on that?

I am afraid the Deputy will have to raise that directly with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I am in general agreement with the Deputy that we should have such a protection scheme in place. It is very important that the deposits which tenants pay are held by an independent body, not by a landlord. That should be the case for all sorts of obvious reasons. I will have to raise the matter with the Minister myself and ask him to contact Deputy Howlin directly.