Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Issues relating to the recovery of outstanding service charges and sinking fund contributions were raised on Committee Stage when I undertook to examine them. On reflection, the best solution is to insert this new section into the Bill. It provides that the owner or management company may seek to recover outstanding service charges and sinking fund contributions as simple contract debts in a court of competent jurisdiction, normally the District Court. This will help to keep recovery costs to a minimum.