Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
547. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding opportunities for local authorities to apply for funds to complete unfinished housing estates; and the details of same. [28789/18]
View answer572. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the role of local authorities in securing site resolution for agreement and implementation on unfinished housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29209/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 572 together.
In March of this year, my Department published the 2017 Annual Progress Report on Unfinished Housing Developments, which are regarded as developments not substantially complete in the context of the scope of works envisaged under the relevant planning permission. The report is available on my Department's website at the following link: 2017 Annual Progress Report
As outlined in that Report, the number of unfinished housing developments has reduced by 91% from around 3,000 developments in 2010 to 256 developments in 2017. In addition, the Report shows that 74% of local authority areas now contain less than 10 unfinished developments, with four local authority areas having no occupied unfinished developments.
The number of developments, and dwellings, deemed as 'unfinished' was recorded as part of the 2017 National Housing Developments Survey and figures at a county level are available at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/final_national_figures_by_county.xls.
A National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) was introduced to develop more streamlined systems and procedures in relation to the taking-in-charge process. In Budget 2014, this was supported by a once-off provision of a €10 million Special Resolution Fund (SRF) to pilot and trial new approaches, which will be documented in a report on the NTICI that I intend to publish later this Summer.
Funding of the resolution and taking-in-charge process is now firmly centred on investment by housing providers and their funders, as well as income from bonds and securities. In view of the progress made within a predominantly housing provider, funder and local authority enforcement driven resolution process, the relatively small cohort of unfinished developments remaining and the scope for investment to resolve such developments in a recovering housing sector context, I have no current plans to allocate additional public funds in relation to unfinished developments.
Local authorities will continue to assess the best options for resolution for the remaining unfinished developments and provide consultation and support for residents, developers and financial institutions. They will continue to use their powers under the various Acts and legal instruments available to them and my Department will continue to provide oversight and assistance to the local authorities in carrying out these duties.
