This blog has been keeping close track of progress with implementing the House Price Database announced in last year’s Renewed Programme for Government amidst loud calls from consumers, auctioneers and politicians. Since last October, 2009 there has been little visible progress – there was talk of a working group in March 2010 but that didn’t appear to have had a serious purpose, regular questioning from politicians in the Oireachtas was effectively stonewalled by Housing Minister, Michael Finneran. But today, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern has provided a statement which is possibly the first tangible sign of progress.
Mr Ahern states that he will amend the Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009 and possibly the Data Protection Act to provide for the HPD which will be administered by the National Property Services Regulatory Authority. The legislation is promised “in the next Dail session” so that will be the Autumn session which will begin at the end of September 2010 and end in December 2010.
The detail of the amendment to the Bill has not yet been published but there seems to be a commitment to make the information publicly available. Of course the devil may well be in the detail – how far back will records go? will it be possible to find out who owns a property even if it has not been subject to a recent sale? how will information be made available?
You can find all the latest developments on the House Price Database at this dedicated page under the ABOUT tab.
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