Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

This is a significant amendment to the Bill and I believe it is essential. The Minister will agree that speakers on Second Stage outlined the great concern and complications that exist where large multi-unit developments are present. For example, apartment blocks and traditional housing estates might be part of the one development. There is confusion about the entire area. I hope this amendment will bring clarity to the situation because there has been resentment from those in the traditional housing sections of a development or estate who had to pay management fee costs for services they do not use and where there are common areas that do not even apply to the section of the development in which they live.

The Minister might clarify that this amendment will satisfy those people who would have concerns about obligations under the management fees and services rules and that people living in traditional housing sections of an estate who do not share the common areas of an adjacent apartment development will find comfort and protection in it. The Minister mentioned matters being "fair and equitable" on a number of occasions in his last address to the House. In any fair assessment of the situation, people who do not utilise services or common areas should not have to pay service charges or management fees when they do not benefit thereby. The Minister might clarify this for me and for the benefit of the House.

The amendment is a significant one and is detailed and technical to a certain degree because it contains many cross references to later amendments and to the Schedules. The Minister might clarify, in layman's language, that it is the case that this amendment will address the concerns of those people in mixed use estates who do not utilise apartment complexes, services or common areas in adjacent apartments. That is what we would like to hear.