asked the Minister for the Environment the action he proposes to take to compel builders to complete the development of estates so that they may be taken in charge by the local authority.
8.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Housing Estate Development Completion.
7.
asked the Minister for the Environment the action he intends taking in regard to housing estates in the Dublin area currently left uncompleted by developers.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Numbers 7 and 8 together.
Responsibility for the enforcement of planning control under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976, is a matter for the planning authority concerned. Various powers are available to planning authorities to take action to secure the satisfactory completion of housing estates. I am satisfied that these powers, which were considerably strengthened by the 1976 Planning Act, are adequate to enable them to take action to secure the satisfactory completion of housing estates. I have advised planning authorities to make full use of these powers to ensure that developers comply fully with the terms and conditions of planning permissions.
Could the Minister tell us whatever happened to the famous £3 million the Government were supposed to be spending to help complete estates where developers had welshed on their obligations? Could he also tell us whether he is aware that, certainly in the South Dublin area, private developers are playing fast and loose both with the council and with the residents and have created estates surrounded not by roads but by tank-traps? Can he tell us whether any of that £3 million will ever be spent and whether any of it will be spent in Dublin South?
As far as the non-compliance with conditions of planning permissions is concerned I would hope that Dublin County Council, together with all other local authorities, would insist that the developers to which the Deputy referred will meet their obligations under the specified conditions. Serious problems have arisen in respect of some estates where debt, bankruptcy or long-standing disputes over ambiguous conditions have held up their completion. We have a scheme in mind with regard to the type of estate to which the Deputy referred. As a first step this year there has been an allocation of £150,000 provided in the Estimates for my Department. This would be the first phase. I would expect that most of the work on these unfinished estates would be completed next year. It will take some time to prepare reports because the type of estate about which we are talking has been a long outstanding case.
Could I ask the Minister——
A brief supplementary, Deputy, please.
I have asked one supplementary only.
I am aware the Deputy has asked only one supplementary but we are now only at Question No. 8.
That is not my fault, A Cheann Comhairle, I have been fairly quiet. Might I ask the Minister to refresh the memory of the House on when it was that these famous £3 million were first announced and why it is that it has taken him so long even to contemplate spending £150,000 of it? When was it first announced? Was it not announced over a year ago?
It was announced about May 1979.
Before the European elections.
Yes, over a year ago, and the Minister has not spent a penny of it yet.
The Minister has not spent it yet. We can get through questions faster than the Minister can spend that money.
Will the Minister please reply to Question No. 9?
There were two questions taken together. Surely I am entitled to ask a question on behalf of Deputy Belton?
A brief question.
Can the Minister say whether his Department have received any details from local authorities of estates to which this money could be applied and, if so, when those details were supplied to him? Furthermore can he say what action he intends taking to notify local authorities of the allocation of the £150,000 budget to be made available this year?
As far as the first part of the question is concerned I do not have the information in my brief with regard to the number of authorities that have submitted information. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement with regard to the scheme and its operation within ten days approximately.
Question No. 9.
Has the Minister not got a list from one authority——
Question No. 9.