THERE may not be a lot to celebrate about in the property industry these days but the Institute of Professional Auctioneers Valuers (IPAV) has every intention of marking its 40th anniversary on May 20 and 21st when it holds its annual conference in Cavan’s Slieve Russell hotel.

The organisation has 800 member firms and there are apparently early indications that some of the estate agencies associated with the former Irish Auctioneers Valuers Institute (IAVI) will be coming aboard rather than throwing in their lot with the newly-formed Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.

The IPAV prides itself on the fact that it only represents estate agents whereas the new organisation looks after the interests of no fewer than 12 different types of surveyors – building, quanity, project, planning and development, geomatics, rural, residential, commercial, facilities and management, arts and antiques and mineral.

At the conference, IPAV is to set aside Saturday afternoon for a “members’ forum” when delegates will have an opportunity to spell out how they expect the organisation to develop over the coming years.

TV Dragon and possible presidential candidate Sean Gallagher will set the tone for the debate by looking at the future of the organisation and the property industry. Other guest speakers will include the the Minister for Housing Planning, Willie Penrose, and Neil Gibson of Ernst Young.

One issue likely to surface at the conference is the proposal to compel individual estate agents to register annually with the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PRSA). Chief executive Fintan McNamara favours a five or 10-year membership term. He is also objecting to plans to allow the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to take control of deposits paid on rental properties. “It’s nothing short of bureaucratic madness,” he says.

With this year’s proceedings taking place in Cavan, it is appropriate that a local, Padraic Smith of Ballyjamesduff, is be chosen as the new president. More surprising is the fact that the former long-time chief executive, Liam O’Donnell, who retired about three years ago, is planning to run for vice-president.