Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is his intention to re-introduce the Ground Rents Bill 2003; if his attention has been drawn to the demand to do so from a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34544/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 already contains a statutory scheme whereby any individual may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in their dwelling house. The scheme is operated by the Property Registration Authority. A legal challenge to the constitutionality of certain provisions of existing ground rents legislation was heard in the High Court during 2005. While the Court's judgment upholding the constitutionality of the legislation was delivered in early 2006, it has since been appealed to the Supreme Court. Operation of the law in this area continues to be reviewed in my Department but there are no proposals for changes pending the outcome of the appeal that I have mentioned.