Around the block: New chiefs highlight industry concerns

It’s all change this week at two of the country’s biggest property groups, with new presidents appointed to the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV).

Pauline Daly, a European director of valuations with JLL, becomes the society's first female president, while Keith Anderson took over the reins at IPAV at its annual conference in Donegal at the weekend.

One of Daly’s biggest concerns is that a skills deficit could develop in the property and construction sectors in the coming years. She is worried about the gap that is emerging between the demand for graduates in the two sectors and the numbers applying for college courses in these areas.

This year there is expected to be a 25 per cent shortfall in graduates to fill available posts but she said she would be making it a priority for the SCSI to come up with solutions to the problem.

Echoing Ms Daly’s call for real-time property data, Anderson also called for a special property council to be established to advise the Government on day-to-day property matters.

He also highlighted the delays in many solicitors’ offices in the conveyance of property.

“Many solicitors simply do not realise the importance and urgency in issuing contracts and dealing with problems as they arise,” he said.

“Even Alexander Bell used the phone in 1876 as a line of communication, but some of our solicitors still refuse to pick it up and talk to each other and many more still do not use email.

“Only by all parties working together can we provide a first-class professional service for the mutual benefit of all.”