The complaint system available for landlords, tenants and neighbours needs to be radically reformed, according to Fianna Fáil.

The party's leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr Paul McAuliffe, said reform of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) is needed to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Cllr McAuliffe commented: "Day in and day out I meet people who raise with me their concerns regarding the issue of rogue tenants and landlords. The current systems are ineffective and take far too long to have any real impact. People have simply given up making a complaint because they recognise the system is not working.

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"We have heard everything from overgrown and dirty gardens to serious drug dealing, people feel at a loss that they have nowhere to go, even Council officials have admitted that the process of chasing absent landlords is getting worse.

"The government has whittled away the staff numbers in the PRTB over the past four years leaving it unable to deal effectively with complaints and broader issues. Tenants, landlords and adjoining neighbours are suffering with long waiting times and inadequate support as a result.

"Reducing complaint waiting times will be a key priority for us when reforming the PRTB. Expanding the data collection remit and capacity of the PRTB in terms of rent comparison and assisting Local Authorities in quality assurance inspections will be vital in transforming the private rental market. Linked with this expansion is the need for the PRTB to promote greater awareness of tenants' rights and responsibilities."

(CD/LM)