Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

■ Support efforts of local authorities to improve estate management, by providing funding for
projects under the Housing Management Initiatives Grants Scheme, and through the work of
the Housing Unit, further promoting best practice in the management of the public and social
housing sector.
■ Continue to support and develop the role of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the
provision of social and affordable housing.
2.3.3 Private rented sector
■ The private rented sector plays an important role in the provision of affordable accommodation
and the Government is committed to continuing to modernise and develop this sector, based
particularly on the Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector report in 2000. Legislation
to be published in the first half of 2003 will provide for measures approved by Government on foot
of this report, including the establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board on a
statutory basis and reforms in relation to matters such as security of tenure, registration of
tenancies, notice to quit periods, rent reviews and dispute resolution. 2
■ Consideration is also being given to developing Public Private Partnership (PPPs) arrangements
to encourage increased supply of affordable rented accommodation, initially involving a pilot
programme focused on households in need of rental assistance.
2.3.4 Next Steps
■ The Government will work with the social partners to ensure that an integrated approach is
maintained to delivering results across the various elements of housing policy. The Housing
Forum, as established under the PPF, will continue to provide the social partners with an
opportunity to contribute to housing policy development by the Department of the Environment
and Local Government.
■ During 2003, a comprehensive study on housing will be undertaken by the NESC.
2.4 Cost and Availability of Insurance
The cost and availability of insurance has an impact not just on the operation of businesses but also
on the budgets of individuals and families. The following elements will be taken into account so as to
effectively address the current difficulties:
■ Implement the Government’s Action Plan with the objective of bringing about a reduction
in insurance costs by the Industry to the benefit of consumers and businesses alike;
■ Establishment of a Ministerial-Level Oversight Committee, to be chaired by the Tánaiste, and
comprising the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Transport and the
Motor Industry Assessment Board (MIAB)/Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) Chairperson,
to progress implementation of the Action Plan;
2 The proposed approach envisages successive four-year tenancy periods which would be available to tenants whose
tenancy has not been terminated in the first six months. Tenancies would be further protected through a graduated
scheme governing notice to quit (from four to sixteen weeks) depending on the length of tenancy in each of the fouryear
periods.
Chapter 2 Special Initiatives
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