Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an issue that affects thousands of people, namely, those who live in defective Celtic tiger-era apartments. The programme for Government contains a commitment for the examination of defective homes following recommendations made in a 2018 report by the Oireachtas housing committee. The programme sets out that the examination should take place within the first 12 months of the life of the Government. The Minister has met relevant parties but I ask him to come in here and update Members on the review group that is being set up, as well as to guarantee a few key items for us. He should guarantee that the process is conducted in public and that the terms of reference and membership of the group are outlined.

In addition, were the Minister to come in here, he should inform us about section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and widen it to include failure to comply with building standards for builders who have been involved in defective building. Section 35 already stipulates that it can be taken into account people who have refused to comply with previous planning permission. However, in a report into a new development in Ballyboden in Dublin, compiled by an inspector from An Bord Pleanála, it states that a developer, who is notorious for building defective units, alleged track record in complying with building regulations is not something that could be considered as part of this planning application. In order to avoid building defective apartments into the future and to create a disincentive for builders who know they can away with doing so, we should consider widening section 35 of the Act so that a history of building defective buildings can be taken into account when applying for new planning permission. Also, we would prevent cowboy builders from operating.

Finally, in September in a reply to parliamentary questions tabled by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Deputies, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, stated that she intends to conduct a review in the coming months of the Multi-Unit Developments Act, particularly relating to owner-management companies. I ask her to come in here and outline the timeline for the review and, in particular, whether she will prioritise the establishment of an independent regulator to manage owner-management companies as part of the reform of the Multi-Unit Developments Act.