Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

It has been pointed out to the Department that to provide that a sinking fund contribution be apportioned in the same manner as the service charge would be inconsistent with current best practice. While service charges covering insurance, refuse collection, etc., are normally related to the size of an apartment, contributions to the sinking fund are calculated on the basis that all apartment owners use the common areas, for instance, lifts, landscaped areas and so on and that the usage is not directly related to the size of the particular apartments. For that reason, section 15(4) will be deleted by the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.