asked the Minister for the Environment the Government's policy in regard to unfinished estates such as Woodlands Estate, Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if a local authority is entitled to complete such work and recoup the cost including interest from the developer.
Written Answers. - Unfinished Estates.
408.
It is the responsibility of the planning authority concerned to ensure that housing estates are satisfactorily completed. I am satisfied that they have adequate powers under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976, for this purpose both in terms of attaching conditions to permissions, including conditions regarding the giving of security, and in terms of enforcement. I have urged planning authorities to make full use of these powers to ensure that developers comply fully with the terms and conditions of planning permissions.
Planning authorities may serve an enforcement notice where development is carried out without complying with conditions attached to a permission. Where the enforcement notice is not complied with a planning authority is enabled to enter on the land, carry out the requirements specified in the enforcement notice and recover their costs.
As regards the particular estate to which the Deputy refers, I have had inquiries made and I understand that various actions have been taken by the planning authority to secure its satisfactory completion and that the matter is being pursued.