Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made towards the introduction of comprehensive legislation to control the establishment and operation of management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30731/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has demonstrated a clear commitment to dealing effectively with the range of complex issues relating to multi-unit developments and is bringing forward a comprehensive suite of legislative proposals in response to the Law Reform Commission's Report on Multi-Unit Developments.

In its consultation paper issued in late 2006 the Law Reform Commission made a number of recommendations relating to areas within the remit of my Department. Those recommendations relating to planning and to physical aspects of multi-unit developments were addressed in 2007-08 through the Planning Guidelines issued by my Department addressing design standards, sustainable residential development and the taking in charge of residential developments/management arrangements.

The Law Reform Commission's Report also recommended that legislation be introduced to address a range of other key issues, relating to management companies, common areas, service charges, sinking funds and dispute resolution. These recommendations were then considered by an interdepartmental group which included representatives from my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Consumer Agency. The deliberations of this group led to the preparation of the Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009 by the Department of Justice and Law Reform. Matters relating to this Bill, including the timing of enactment, are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.