Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the 146% increase in complaints regarding property management companies, as registered by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement for 2007; the steps he will take to ensure that this trend is reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2859/08]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The number of complaints received in 2007 in respect of property management companies was 64, a 146% increase on the previous year's figure of 26. This increase is likely to have been prompted by the publication of the ODCE's Consultation Paper on the Governance of Apartment Owners' Management Companies in December 2006, the attendant media interest in the subject and also the fact that there is an increasing number of people living in apartments in Ireland.

I am pleased that the Director of Corporate Enforcement successfully rectified difficulties in 43 of these cases by contacting the directors in question. 21 other cases are continuing to be assessed at year-end.

The enforcement of breaches of company law by property management companies, as with any companies, is a matter for the Director of Corporate Enforcement. I understand that the Director is producing a Governance Handbook for property management companies in order to raise awareness of the responsibilities and rights that apartment owners have as members of such companies.