Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputies Clune and Hogan.

The problem relating to management companies is ongoing. I raised it with various Ministers in the past three years and matters have not moved on in that time. I tabled a parliamentary question to the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, on Tuesday, 27 June 2006 and I received a reply which stated: "In late 2005 I requested that a survey be carried out of planning authorities regarding their policy on attaching planning conditions relating to management companies." The then Minister indicated that he received replies from 90% of local authorities. I made further inquiries a year later and discovered that, much to my embarrassment, the Department had not received replies from Galway City Council and Galway County Council.

Members on all sides have referred to the difficulties experienced in respect of management companies running apartment complexes. In Galway, many such companies have been appointed to run conventional housing developments. For example, I am aware of a development of four detached houses in a particular area of Galway and another of 38 houses at Clybaun Court, Knocknacarra — 34 of which are semi-detached and four of which are detached — in respect of which the city council stipulated that management companies would have to be established. Despite the fact that some of the residents of the latter estate obtained more favourable quotes in respect of maintaining grass verges or whatever it is management companies do, it was not possible to replace the management company that had been set up. Some of the directors of that company are employees or have connections to the construction company that built the estate. Everything is nicely tied up and it does not seem possible for the residents to extricate themselves from this arrangement.

I also raised this matter on the Adjournment on a previous occasion and the Minister stated: "On 25 January 2006, my Department issued circular letter PD 1/06 reminding local authorities of their obligations under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 regarding taking in charge of estates." However, nothing has been done in the interim. Commitments were made in respect of this matter in the programme for Government agreed in 2002. Again, however, action has not been taken.

I welcome the fact that the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Finance have contributed to this debate. Fine Gael is honoured that three such prominent Ministers have come before the House to address the motion. I cannot recall a previous occasion on which three of the most senior Ministers in Cabinet addressed a Fine Gael Private Members' motion. Perhaps an advance of sorts, under which greater responsibility will be placed on Ministers, is being made at the behest of the new Taoiseach. Usually a Minister of State or someone who has no connection to the relevant Department is sent to the House to deal with matters of this nature.

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