The proposals are in a new report, Successful Apartment Living, which was prepared by council officials and will shortly be considered by members of the city council.

The report says apartment living will continue to increase in the capital and will "remain the dominant form of new housing" in future years. There is an explicit acknowledgement in the report that past policies have produced a residential sector that is skewed towards "single people and childless couples rather than families".

There are recommendations to promote apartment living by families, including the provision of greater internal storage spaces and outdoor areas landscaped with children in mind.

The report also recommends on-site management and full-time supervision at the entrance to apartment complexes.

In a significant policy development, it also suggests that the local authority should take over responsibility for management companies in apartment blocks. The Law Reform Commission is preparing a report on the legal difficulties in this area.

Under the report's recommendations, those running companies which provide management services would in future have to apply to the city council for a licence.

In advance of the next council meeting, Labour councillor Kevin Humphreys has established a website, www. apartmentforum. net, to gather views on how apartment living can be improved. A motion proposed by Humphreys on soundproofing and play areas for children in apartment developments will be discussed at the meeting on 4 September.

"I want to get feedback so that we can make apartment living successful and sustainable, " Humphreys said this weekend.