Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views as an interim measure, pending the report of the high level interdepartmental committee on multi-unit developments, on imposing a requirement on management companies and management agents to provide clear and immediate information on their operations to the occupants, both collectively and individually, of multi unit developments for which they have undertaken management responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25395/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions on which the interdepartmental committee on multi-unit developments, which is chaired by his Department, has met to date; the date it last met; and when he expects the Committee to issue its final report. [25396/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Law Reform Commission has recently published its final report on multi-unit developments; if he will make a statement on the recommendations contained therein; if he will fulfil previous commitments that legislation on multi-unit developments would be brought before Dáil Éireann before the summer 2008 recess; and the timeframe for the publication, debate and enactment of this legislative package. [25397/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 to 525, inclusive, together.

I have already indicated in response to Parliamentary Questions that the high level interdepartmental committee on multi-unit developments has been established to identify the legislative and administrative actions that should be taken in response to recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission on the matter. The interdepartmental committee met on 7 occasions to consider the preliminary proposals which were set out in the Commission's Consultation Paper. Since then the Committee has had its first meeting to consider the Commission's recommendations — 70 in total — that are contained in its Final Report that was published on 24 June last. The Committee is in the process of establishing a programme of work in response to the recommendations as a matter of priority. The Commission's Report is a wide ranging document involving reforms across a broad range of policy areas including planning and development law, tax law, company law, the law relating to registration of ownership of land, the jurisdiction of the courts and other related areas.

My Department is already engaging with the Property Registration Authority/Land Registry to examine the recommendations made, for example, in relation to the registration of title for multi-unit developments. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is examining the recommendations for the strengthening of company law. In so far as issues relating to consumer information and general awareness in the area of multi-unit developments are concerned the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has already welcomed the new publication launched by the National Consumer Agency to address the need for consumers to understand the issues around multi-unit developments. This followed on from the work at the stakeholder forum on which his Department and other key organisations were represented.

I should also mention that the National Consumer Agency has agreed a Code of Practice for developers of multi-unit developments with the Irish Home Builders Association. This Code outlines the responsibilities of developers regarding ownership, management and maintenance of common areas and the provision of common services within such developments. It also addresses areas such as the establishment and operation of the management company, the use of property management agents, the calculation of service charges and establishment of a sinking fund.