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

This is an issue but of greater gravity are the challenges facing those living in apartment blocks. We in Tallaght have received much contact from Marlfield, Deerpark and around the Belgard Square area. We recently objected to more apartments being built in Tallaght and South Dublin County Council's planning application for the old Esso site in Tallaght village. Like other colleagues, I am disappointed there are to be more apartments in Tallaght village because this presents a particular challenge for my community.

I am not copying Deputy Terence Flanagan but I wish to refer to a cutting from the Tallaght Echo, which I read every week. There is a great picture of Deputy Hayes in it this week, in case anyone would like to see it. The Deputy is getting good publicity. "Residents refuse to pay hiked management fees", screamed a headline last week. This illustrates that this an issue throughout all constituencies, as my colleagues have said.

A group of residents in an apartment block in Tallaght are refusing to pay management fees because of what they see as an unacceptable increase in last year's bill. The Echo spoke to several residents from the Loftus Hall apartment block in Belgard Square who say they cannot afford to pay the management fees, which, they claim, have gone up by over €1,000.

This highlights the issue that is being presented to us all and I hope Ministers, particularly the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, will understand the need for proper, effective legislation in this regard as this is something we would all support. We must put out a positive message that what is happening is not right.

See this speech in context