Speaking on the Order of Business in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Joan Burton once again called on the Government to finally honour its often repeated promises to legislate for property management companies.

“The position with regard to management companies continues to give rise to major difficulties for tens of thousands of home owners, particularly in Dublin and Leinster where responsibility for many new developments lies with such companies.

“As a result of the financial difficulties affecting the construction sector, young people are living in estates and apartment blocks which were constructed by builders or developers who have effectively gone into liquidation and in respect of which there is no actual legal structure in place to govern the activities of management companies.

“Legislation has continually been promised in this area. The position regarding management companies is creating major problems in the housing market because people wishing to sell on their houses or apartments – in the limited market that exists – are being impeded from doing so if such companies have responsibility for the upkeep of the estates or blocks in which those houses or apartments are located.

An Taoiseach replied, with no apparent sense of irony, that “the matter relating to management companies is one which must be dealt with as a matter of urgency. This is a complex area and we are moving towards having the relevant legislation introduced in the House as soon as possible. A Cabinet sub-committee is currently working on the matter.”

Deputy Burton later commented that “this is typical of our do-nothing government – they always seem to be one more report or committee meeting away from taking action.”