To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any powers her Department has in relation to private estate management companies that charge annual fees for the maintenance of grassed and communal areas in residential developments.

My Department does not have any specific powers in relation to private estate management companies. Such companies are not subject to sector-specific guidelines or statutory requirements, other than if they fall within general company law provisions.

On foot of concerns raised by both individual residents and locally elected representatives in relation to the actions of property management companies and agents, my Department commissioned a scoping study to examine issues relating to the management of shared property.

I have considered the report produced and have directed that a small team be set up to begin work on this in the next financial year, with a view to developing proposals for potential legislative reform. My Department will engage with stakeholders including home-owners and any bodies responsible for shared property management as part of that work.