Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to publish the promised property services regulatory authority Bill; if the Bill will include provisions to regulate the operation of management companies; his views on the recent report of the Law Reform Commission on multi-unit developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32849/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Legislation Programme published on 23 September 2008 provides for publication of the Property Services (Regulation) Bill during the current Dáil session. The Bill will establish the Property Services Regulatory Authority on a statutory basis. The primary task of the new Authority will be to maintain and improve standards in the provision of property services by auctioneers, estate agents and property management agents through a new licensing regime and a system for investigating and adjudicating on complaints against property service providers.

As regards property management companies, the position is that the Law Reform Commission's Report on Multi-Unit Developments contains recommendations concerning multi-unit developments and the regulation and governance of such companies. The Commission does not however recommend that the Property Services Regulatory Authority be given a role in relation to these companies.

Work on the preparation of legislative proposals to respond the Law Reform Commission's recommendations on property management companies is currently under way across a number of Departments. A decision will be made shortly as to whether it would be more expeditious to introduce a single Bill or to adopt a sectoral approach to amending existing legislation. The Government's decision on the matter will be made on the basis of how quickly the required legislation can be enacted.