Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
342. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has undertaken any investigations into the Riverwalk development, Ratoath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52966/13]
View answerAs part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011 and 2012 local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories in the 2011 survey as follows:
- Category one, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where no serious public safety issues exist;
- Category two, where a receiver has been appointed;
- Category three, where a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and
- Category four, where the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.
The 2012 categorisation methodology for the survey was different to that which was used in 2011. That earlier categorisation related largely to the level of on-site activity at the time the 2011 survey was carried out and had less to do with the physical character of a development. The 2012 survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development. Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a "seriously problematic condition", regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included.
No estate called ‘Riverwalk’ in Ratoath was identified as falling under any of the above categories in either the 2011 or 2012 survey. Each local authority has a nominated Unfinished Estates official whose contact details are on www.housing.ie and queries regarding the status of relevant developments should, in the first instance, be directed to the relevant local authority.
