Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
677. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the advice received from the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to the compilation of the rent register as part of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6523/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025 provides for the establishment of a Rent Price Register.
As part of the drafting process of the Bill, my Department consulted with the Data Protection Commission in compliance with Article 36(4) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Section 84(12) of the Data Protection Act 2018.
I have no plans to publish the consultation with the Data Protection Commissioner. However, taking account of those consultations and in compliance with data protection and privacy legislation, the rent amount payable and the unique identifier for the tenancy will be included on the RTB’s published register. The address of the dwelling will not be published to prevent the disclosure of the identity of the landlord and tenant. Accordingly, no personal information will be included in the RTB’s published register.
It is proposed to include on the published register, the LEA, the number of bedspaces, floor area and the Building Energy Rating (BER) in addition to the dwelling type and number of bedrooms. The additional information will help set the rent amount in the context of the nature of accommodation for let.
This register will provide greater transparency in rental prices for tenants, landlords and other stakeholders and will be an important and necessary source of information for the sector, particularly when setting and reviewing rents.
