asked the Minister for Local Government if he will request all local authorities to exercise their powers to attach a condition to the grant of planning permissions requiring developers to lodge security for the satisfactory completion of proposed developments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Planning Permission Regulations.
39.
As far as I am aware planning authorities are not remiss in this regard and where necessary do attach to grants of planning permission appropriate conditions to ensure the completion of development. I do not consider that any special reminder to them in this regard is called for.
Will the Minister state if the conditions attaching to the planning permissions are being complied with by those developers or have any cases been brought to his attention where they have not been complied with?
Wherever a developer does not comply with the conditions the local authorities have power to proceed against him and they can, of course, realise on the bond where a bond exists.
They have the power but how often do they exercise it?
The local authorities have the power. The question relates to my asking them specifically to do it. I am saying they are doing it.
The Minister has said he is satisfied local authorities have been exercising their power especially in relation to bonds. What is his basis for saying that?
The matter is a very simple one. If the Deputy has a specific complaint it is up to him to bring it to my attention.
Is the Minister aware that notwithstanding widespread complaints, particularly in the greater Dublin area, almost no bonds, or at most two or three, have been taken over by the local authority, yet there is a proliferation of estates left completely unfinished and the developers have told the local authority to go and get lost? It is about time the power given in the 1963 Act was exercised in this respect.
Most of these complaints would relate to developments commenced before the 1963 Act came into operation. Local authorities now have adequate power and if Deputies tell me of cases of which they are aware I will have them investigated.