Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2011
29 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the most recent national housing survey which found that there are more than 2,000 developments which remain unfinished; his plans to provide extra funding on top of that already allocated to local authorities in order to address this issue. [30311/11]
View answer39 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take to ensure that the 18,638 completed houses that remain vacant are used to house persons as soon as possible. [30399/11]
View answer45 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons currently employed in making safe ghost estates; the amount of money drawn down for this work by local authorities; and the amount of work of this nature that is still required. [30400/11]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 39 and 45 together.
The first National Housing Development Survey database, published in October 2010, established an authoritative baseline analysis of unfinished housing developments to assist in fully understanding the scale and extent of the issues involved. Last week I published the findings of the 2011 survey. This showed that the number of complete vacant units had decreased by 20% since the 2010 survey from 23,250 to 18,638. Furthermore, 7,343 dwellings recorded as vacant in 2010 are now occupied (a 9.4% increase), while 17,872 dwellings are at various further stages of construction, 8,794 (almost 50%) being nearly complete. I remain committed to exploring all options for bringing suitable unsold residential stock into productive use for social housing purposes.
The results of the 2011 survey are testimony to the fact that measurable progress is being made in addressing the issues relating to unfinished housing developments and that the policies and initiatives which I have launched since assuming office are beginning to bear tangible fruit.
The overall approach is being coordinated through the National Co-ordination Committee which, I established and am chairing to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments.
To date, my Department has approved some €2.13 million to eighteen local authorities in respect of 95 estates from the €5 million funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues. The types of works that have been approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting, and other works to secure sites. My Department will be making further allocations as applications are received from local authorities and assessed.
The works are being carried out by the individual local authorities, using a mixture of sub-contractors and their own personnel. I am therefore not in a position to furnish numbers of people employed as a result of this initiative.
