Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:29. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for dealing with unfinished estates. [20491/13]
View answerWednesday, 1 May 2013
Questions (29, 44, 158)
Michael P. Kitt
Question:44. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money made available to upgrade unfinished estates in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/13]
View answer
Barry Cowen
Question:158. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money made available to upgrade unfinished estates in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 44 and 158 together.
I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. Real progress is being made in tackling and resolving the issues faced by residents of unfinished estates and the Committee is meeting on a regular basis to oversee this effort. The NCC has produced a Guidance Manual on Resolving and Managing Unfinished Estates, a Key Stakeholders Code of Practice, and a Guide for Residents Living in Unfinished Housing Developments, all of which are available at www.housing.ie.
Site Resolution Plans (SRP’s) have been identified by the NCC as a key tool in resolving issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Such plans enable stakeholders, including developers, local authorities, financial institutions, NAMA and residents to collaborate in determining how best to pursue resolution of problematic sites. The process also entails working with stakeholders in identifying the best long-term solution for developments in terms of their configuration, use of vacant buildings and ownership. Such solutions also take account of the best interests of residents.
Under the Public Safety Initiative for Unfinished Housing Developments my Department has made allocations totalling some €3.877 million to 21 local authorities from the funding made available to address immediate public safety issues. In 2011, €2.49 million was approved, in 2012 €1.38 million was approved, and my Department will continue to examine and approve claims in 2013 as they are submitted by Local Authorities. The types of works that have been approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. To date, a total of €2.515 million has been drawn down by local authorities. It is not considered necessary to allocate any additional funding to this scheme at this time as the funds currently available are adequate to service this initiative. This funding is targeted at those developments where a developer has abandoned the development and serious public safety concerns exist. In circumstances where a developer is still active it is the responsibility of the local authority planning department to pursue the developer for completion of the development in line with the terms of the original planning permission. Similarly, where a developer is inactive but still in place the enforcement of the planning conditions is a matter for the relevant planning authority.
As outlined in the National Housing Development Survey 2012, the results of which I published in November 2012, real progress has been made in tackling the issues faced by the residents of unfinished housing developments, with a 37% decrease in the number of unfinished developments since 2010 and nearly 300 developments effectively resolved in the last 12 months. I am satisfied that the work carried out through the NCC continues to tackle the problems associated with unfinished housing developments.