Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said she took advice when she first heard about this, but now she is asking each local authority to outline its approach to her. It is the Minister's responsibility to tell them what the approach should be in terms of the responsibility of the developers, as opposed to the homeowners, to pay the development contributions. One must ask if the local authorities were negligent in phasing payments or seeking payment in increments when it has left homeowners so exposed. The issue is the food chain in terms of responsibility. Consider Priory Hall, the pyrite issue, management companies and the lapsing of the bonds, which was mentioned. Most bonds are of only seven years duration; the only ones that were issued in perpetuity were Anglo Irish Bank bonds. All of that has been a negative for the people at the end of the food chain.

Who is acting in the interest of the homeowner? Is that not one of the roles the local authority should play? I believe it is not a question of asking about the approach of the local authorities but of dictating to them how they should conduct their affairs in this regard. The homeowners should not be made responsible for this.

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