Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)

All duplexes are tied in.

This also relates to defects. There are a small number of multi-unit developments with defects, where some of the defects may well be in the rows of houses. It is important when we get to that legislation that we do not, in all instances, exclude houses where there is a demonstrable case that there are, for example, some issues within rows of houses. There is a row of houses in a brand-new development at Kilcarbery Bridge where the back garden is communal. Even though these are individual houses, the back garden is a communal garden. This was in the plan that was approved by the planning authority. There is a tiny bit of curtilage in front of the front door, which is private, but it is then communal and public. Even though these are all individual houses, because of the way in which this has been planned, those homeowners are more akin to apartment owners although they have a freehold rather than a leasehold. They will continue to pay a management fee of between €600 and €1,000. Apartments will pay a management fee of €2,000.

All of these things will have to be teased out. Cork will be the same when it starts getting some larger developments. We had cases in the past where, at the point of taking in charge, houseowners opted out of the OMC. That is no longer possible in terms of how new estates are being planned and developed because they will always have some communal areas. That is an important point to finish on.