I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.
A circular letter was sent to each city and county manager on 19 November 1979 in connection with the problems of unfinished housing estates. As consultations were necessary before this circular was prepared I could not accept that any delay occurred in issuing it. The circular requested information on the extent of the problem in each area, the type of works outstanding and the likely cost of remedial action which would be necessary to enable the authorities to take the estates in charge. The circular also reminded the authorities of their powers and duties in relation to planning control and urged that full use be made of the provisions of the Planning Acts to ensure that developers complete their estates to a satisfactory standard.
Reports on the extent of the problem have now been received from the majority of the authorities. Replies are still outstanding in respect of eight areas. The reports are being examined in my Department at present and when this examination is complete I hope to devise a scheme to enable planning authorities to deal with estates where all efforts have failed to achieve their completion. However, as I indicated in the Dáil on 4 December 1979 in reply to a previous question, it is not my intention to facilitate developers to avoid their obligations to comply with the terms of planning permissions.