andMr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if he will state in regard to the replies he received to the circular he sent to local authorities concerning unfinished private housing estates; the local authorities from which replies are still outstanding; the local authorities which have sought assistance under the scheme; the specific estates in respect of which assistance has been sought; if a decision has yet been given on any of these requests; and the amount of money allocated to date.
Written Answers. - Unfinished Housing Estates.
154.
The circular letter which issued from my Department on 19 November, 1979 requested, inter alia, information on the extent of intractible problems in relation to unfinished housing estates in each local authority area, the type of work outstanding and the likely cost of remedial action. Reports are still awaited in respect of Counties Louth and Wexford and Limerick City.
The purpose of the circular letter was to obtain general reports on the position in each area to enable the extent of the problem to be assessed in advance of the finalisation of proposals. The circular letter did not invite applications for assistance and accordingly full details including names of individual estates were not supplied by all authorities. Similarly not all authorities specifically sought assistance in respect of individual estates. Accordingly full details on the lines requested by the Deputy are not available.
Proposals are at present being considered to assist planning authorities to take in charge and complete those estates where insuperable problems have arisen in achieving their completion. When details of a scheme are approved local authorities will be notified. At that state applications for assistance in respect of individual estates could more appropriately be made and details of the specific estates which might merit assistance and the local authorities involved will be known.