Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
999. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the plans in place to deal with site clearance of non-viable ghost estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41176/14]
View answerOne of the key recommendations of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, Resolving Ireland’s Unfinished Housing Developments, which is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,26678,en.pdf was for my Department to establish a National Coordination Committee (NCC) to “oversee the implementation of action on unfinished developments and to monitor progress”.
The NCC comprises senior level representatives of the key stakeholders, including the banking and construction industries, NAMA, local authorities, the Health and Safety Authority, residents and my Department.
An Annual Progress Report on this issue was published by my Department in November 2013 and is available at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34916,en.pdf.
This report demonstrated that there is a cohort of - mainly unoccupied - housing developments that do not appear to have long term prospects for resolution because they are in weak market areas, poorly configured, and in a state of deterioration which the bond will not cover.
Financial institutions had initially indicated that parts of around 40 developments would be likely to be returned to green-field condition. However, as economic conditions have recovered and viability of housing projects improves, this figure is expected to reduce as the financial institutions assess each loan on a case-by- case basis and decide an appropriate course of action. For reasons relating to the constant variability of viability on a site-by- site basis and client confidentiality reasons, the identity of the parts of developments that may now be cleared is not available to my Department.
Site clearance is an intrinsic part of the asset management and disposal process by owners/developers/funders and will not normally require State intervention or funding, unless there are compelling reasons, such as issues relating to public safety. The decision to clear all, or part of, an unfinished housing development is a matter for the owner/developer or funder acting in possession, usually acting through a receiver and in the context of implementing a Site Resolution plan agreed with the local authority. The National Co-ordination Committee will continue to liaise with key stakeholders in monitoring progress in this area.
