Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has called on Dublin City Council to begin an immediate and focused campaign of house inspections.

This follows news that 483 out of 589 flats inspected on the North Circular Road were found to be in breach of regulations.

Deputy Ellis continued: "Unfortunately, this is not surprising. I have worked with countless people living in very poor private rental conditions. Inspections and enforcement are just not good enough to force landlords to change. The lower end of the private rental market is ripe for those who want to exploit people, and that is exactly what is happening across Dublin. It is not surprising, but it is wholly unacceptable in this day and age.

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"Dublin City Council says it is undertaking an intensified inspection campaign, but it must work faster and harder to identify accommodation which is below standards and enforce penalties or improvements as soon as possible. This is not a new problem and I have little doubt many more properties will be found in breach.

"Another important element of this is the support of the Rental Tenancies Board which does not receive any state funds but does contribute to local authorities like Dublin City Council. The board is an excellent mechanism for tenants of unscrupulous landlords to report them and to see that there is change. However, this is harder and harder as it is having to make cuts. The state must support bodies which help tenants to get their rights respected and to ensure that standards are met."

(CD/GK)