Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

It is an ever-changing environment and in five years it will be an entirely different place. The Square is known by some as crane place. It is a hive of activity with much building work going on. I am concerned with the number of apartment blocks being developed. I know housing is an important issue, but different challenges are coming to the surface with apartment block developments and we must be careful that what we are allowing to be developed will be good for our towns.

There are concerns about the operation of apartment block management companies. I do not know if the position is the same in Marino and Clontarf but gaining access to many apartment blocks is not easy. I spend much time trying to reach constituents in apartment blocks. There is also the wider issue of the registration of voters in apartment blocks. It is not just political activists who have this problem but also postal workers. Given that our dwelling habits are changing, the Department must consider the difficulties that arise.

I am glad the Minister accepts there are problems with the operation of management companies. I gave the example of the Marfield Estate. That was a case of people believing they were not treated in the best way when the estate was handed over. I am glad that local authorities will not be allowed to abdicate their responsibilities in this regard. I have often spoken about the need to remind local authorities that the taking in charge of estates and accommodation units is an important process. People depend upon us to make that point. There are estates in my constituency where taking-in-charge procedures were not initiated for many years, which causes many problems. There is one estate in Tallaght where people are still waiting for the grass to be cut regularly. Some 15 years after the estate was built the builder still has not finished the estate. I wish the Minister well in tackling these problems. He has my support, as ever. I compliment my colleagues on the Opposition benches for their initiative.

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