Vol. 576 No. 5
413 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the lengthy delays in many local authority areas in the taking in charge process; if his attention has further been drawn to the difficulties this creates for householders awaiting services; and the measures he proposes to introduce to speed up this process. [29761/03]
The issue of unfinished housing estates was examined as part of the review of planning legislation leading to the adaption of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Arising from this review, section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 made substantial amendments to the statutory provisions governing the taking in charge of estates. These new arrangements, which came into operation on 21 January 2002, provide that where an estate is unfinished, and the planning authority does not initiate enforcement action against the developer within seven years requiring the estate to be finished, the authority is then required to take the estate in charge where the majority of the residents so request. My Department has not been made aware of any difficulties being experienced with these provisions.
