Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role of the national Property Services Regulatory Authority in regulating property management agents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12776/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of legislation to give statutory effect to the National Property Service Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12777/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together.

The Government Legislative Programme published on 1 April 2008 provides for publication of the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill during the current Dail session. Pending enactment of the legislation, a Chief Executive designate has already been appointed and an Implementation Group has been established to assist and advise on practical matters relating to the establishment of the new Authority.

The principal functions of the new Authority in relation to property management agents and other property services providers (i.e. auctioneers and estate agents) are to be as follows: To operate a comprehensive licensing system; this will replace the more limited licensing system currently applicable to auctioneers and house agents which is based in the District Court; to set and enforce standards for the grant of licences (e.g. educational/training standards; levels of professional indemnity insurance) as well as standards to be observed in the provision of property services by licensees; to establish and administer a system of investigation and adjudication of complaints relating to the provision of property services; to promote increased consumer protection and awareness of property services in general and the costs, risks and benefits associated with the provision of such services; to establish, maintain and administer a Compensation Fund. Details of the proposed legislation are available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie).