Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012
22 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps that have been taken to address problems with unfinished estates; the amount of money available to rectify immediate and ongoing problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5787/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra24 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the development of a plan to resolve the issues surrounding ghost estates; and in particular the progress that has been made with an estate (details supplied) in County Laois. [5904/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together.
I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. The Committee is meeting on a regular basis with the aim of publishing a report on progress achieved within the next 12 months. In the meantime, work is ongoing on implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group and real progress is already being made with regard to the public safety works required to improve the living conditions of existing residents on some unfinished estates. To date, my Department has made allocations totalling €2,548,305 to fifteen local authorities from the funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues.
The types of works that have been approved to date include:
fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas,
capping of pipes,
installation of street lighting, and
other works to secure sites.
Planning authorities are also making progress in securing the co-operation of developers, financial institutions, both domestic and foreign owned, and/or bond holders, thereby obviating the need to use Exchequer resources to fund such work. In the case of the Estate referred to in Question 24, my Department understands that this development is in the hands of a receiver who is responsible for the estate.
