Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
236 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the escalation of problems associated with the operation of private gated estates in respect of uncontrolled management charges and the unreliability of management companies generally; if he has plans to introduce legislation to address these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34033/04]
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Such management companies are constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to comply with the provisions of those Acts. The operation of such companies is primarily a matter for their members, which are the owners of the properties in the developments to which they relate. The agreed programme for Government undertook to consider the introduction of legislation to regulate the establishment and operation of apartment complex management companies and a Law Reform Commission working group is examining the law on condominiums and issues relating to management companies. As part of its work, the group is considering consumer protection issues, including management company service charges. The group intends to produce a consultation paper early next year. This should provide a basis for considering measures and how they should be pursued.
