asked the Minister for Local Government whether he proposes to introduce amending legislation to ensure that housing and land developers complete estates in accordance with the planning conditions stipulated by the planning authorities; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Completion of Housing Estates.
26.
The Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, gave planning authorities new and strong powers to enable them to ensure that housing estates and other forms of development are completed in conformity with the relevant planning permission and that any condition attached to a planning permission is complied with. Effective use of the enforcement powers conferred on planning authorities by the Act will go a long way towards eliminating the problem of unfinished estates which has caused considerable trouble in the past in a number of areas, and particularly in the Dublin area. In addition to their enforcement powers, planning authorities are specifically empowered under the 1963 Act to attach a condition on the grant of a planning permission requiring the developer to lodge security for the satisfactory completion of the proposed development. Insistence on the giving of such security in appropriate cases provides a valuable lever to enable planning authorities to bring pressure to bear on defaulting developers.
I am, of course, aware that difficulties still exist in relation to some housing estates developed on the basis of permissions granted before the 1963 Act came into operation and I have been pressing the local authorities concerned to take whatever action is open to them to clear up the residue of these older cases.
In view of the contempt displayed by some developers to the planning authorities in regard to completing these estates is the Minister prepared to ensure that the authorities are once again reminded of the need for a rigid enforcement of the planning provisions?
I am satisfied that there should be no difficulty in relation to any scheme for which permission was given subsequent to the Planning Act 1963. In regard to earlier cases which have not been satisfactorily completed the planning authority, as I say, should be able to get them all satisfactorily completed and I have been pressing them to do so. I am keeping the matter under review and if it appears necessary to take further steps I will do so.