Nearly one in five rental properties across the country inspected last year did not meet minimum legal standards, according to statistics from the Department of the Environment.
The statistics, which were obtained by Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohoe, reveal that 2,854 of the 14,880 rental properties checked by local authorities across the country in 2008 were found to be below minimum standards. This is equivalent to nearly one in five of all rented properties in Ireland.
The data shows wide discrepancies in standards across Ireland with almost half of rental properties in Dublin coming in below standards compared to just 9 per cent in Co Galway and 2 per cent in Co Wexford.
Donegal, Westmeath, Meath were among a number of county councils who reported a 100 per cent compliance rate for rented properties.
In the capital, 1,266 of the 2,822 properties inspected by Dublin City Council were found to be below the standards outlined by the Department of the Environment. This is equivalent to 45 per cent of all properties checked in the capital.
Despite the high number of failed inspections, only eight legal cases were taken against rogue landlords last year, just one of which was initiated by Dublin City Council.
Mr Donohoe expressed disappointment at the failure of county councils to take action over the failure of landlords to provide adequate accommodation.
"These figures show the poor maintenance of rental properties continues to be a huge problem in our towns and cities but that it is not been treated with the same seriousness by the different authorities involved in regulating the sector,” he said.
“I want the different local authorities to consistently implement new legislation in this area and use the revenue from increased fines to fund more enforcement," he added.
